Sir Keir Starmer will present a peace plan to US president Donald Trump after a summit of European leaders in London today, he has revealed.
In an interview with the BBC this morning, Sir Keir said his recent conversations with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, French leader Emmanuel Macron and Mr Trump have led to an agreement that the UK, alongside Paris and “possibly one or two others”, will work with Kyiv to draw up a “plan to stop the fighting”.
He added that the plan will then be discussed with the United States. “I think we've got a step in the right direction", he said.
It comes as Sir Keir will host a critical meeting of world leaders today to discuss future support for Ukraine.
The Ukrainian leader will be among more than a dozen leaders attending the meeting from a host of European nations, as well as Canada, Turkey and Nato. It is being held at Lancaster House, a 200-year-old elegant mansion near Buckingham Palace.
Mr Zelensky will also meet with King Charles in what is being seen as a moment of royal solidarity with Ukraine.
Key Points
- Watch live: Keir Starmer hosts European leaders to discuss support for Ukraine after Zelensky-Trump clash
- UK/Italy can play an important bridge building role between Ukraine and US, says Meloni
- Zelensky to meet King Charles today
- Starmer says Trump-Zelensky clash made him 'uncomfortable'
- Russia heaps praise on Trump after spat with Zelensky
Zelensky arrives at Lancaster House
14:06
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Tom Watling
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived at Lancaster House ahead of talks about future support for Ukraine.
In pictures: Ukraine supporters wave flags outside Lancaster House
14:02
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Tom Watling
More leaders arrive at Lancaster House
13:57
Which countries have supplied weapons to Ukraine?
13:50
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Tom Watling
As European leaders arrive in London today for crunch talks about future support for Ukraine, you might be wondering which of them are sending the most weapons to Kyiv.
Unfortunately for Ukraine, given suggestions from the White House that they may stop sending weapons, the US remains their most significant supplier.
Behind them are Germany, the UK, Denmark and the Netherlands.
Interestingly, however, if you convert those figures into a share of each country’s GDP, the list looks very different.
The US is 17th, Germany is 15th and the UK is 14th, according to the Kiel Institute’s Ukraine support tracker.
Only Denmark remains in the top five, ranked first. The roughly £6 billion in weapons it has sent to Ukraine is equivalent to 2.038 per cent of the country’s GDP.
The next four on that list are Estonia, Lithuania Latvia and Finland, all of whom share a border with mainland Russia or the exclave of Kaliningrad.
The three of the Baltic nations were not invited to today’s summit despite the proximity to Russia. Sir Keir Starmer, in an online meeting with the nations earlier today, apologised for this and vowed it would not happen again.
The King shows extraordinary courage in supporting democracy after the Oval Office car crash
13:48
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Tom Watling
More leaders arrive at Lancaster House
13:42
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Tom Watling
Turkish FM arrives at Lancaster House
13:38
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Tom Watling
Turkey’s foreign minister Hakan Fidan has arrived at Lancaster House.
Turkey recently stated its willingness to host peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.
It hosted the last talks, which took place in March 2022.
Video: Meloni and Starmer speak in Downing Street
13:31
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Tom Watling
Below, we have some footage from Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni’s earlier meeting in Downing Street with Sir Keir Starmer.
Dichiarazioni alla stampa con il Primo Ministro del Regno Unito @Keir_Starmer pic.twitter.com/qVT9rrXDqN
— Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) March 2, 2025
Swedish PM arrives at Lancaster House
13:27
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Tom Watling
Ukraine DM joins Zelensky in London
13:24
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Tom Watling
Ukraine’s defence minister Rustem Umerov is holding a separate meeting in London today with his British counterpart John Healey.
Mr Healey has said the UK must not forget the importance of supporting Ukraine on the battlefield while peace negotiations are ongoing.
Great to welcome my friend @rustem_umerov to London for this weekend’s summit and reiterate to him our unwavering support.
— John Healey (@JohnHealey_MP) March 2, 2025
Together we are all determined to find a path to secure a just and lasting peace in Europe and the best outcome for Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/21vChRLV2g
Polish PM and Nato chief arrive
13:20
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Tom Watling
The next couple of European leaders have arrived at Lancaster House.
Polish prime minister Donald Tusk and Nato chief Mark Rutte have just arrived.
Mr Tusk is hobbling in after suffering a ski injury during a recent family trip.
In pictures: Macron arrives for London talks
13:13
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Tom Watling
Keir Starmer says he trusts Donald Trump
13:01
Macron shakes hands with Sir Keir Starmer as he arrives for defence summit
12:46
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Barney Davis
At Lancaster House, a mansion near Buckingham Palace, the Prime Minister greets French President Emmanuel Macron, as he is expected to urge the 18 countries in attendance to follow the UK in answering the US’s calls to boost defence spending.
Sir Keir pledged this week to raise the UK’s defence spending to 2.5% of its economic output by 2027.
Sir Keir spoke to Mr Trump on Sunday, for the second evening in a row, as well as Macron, as he seeks to be a bridge across the Atlantic and smooth out the ongoing division between Western allies.
Justin Trudeau will join EU leaders in defence summit
12:44
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Barney Davis
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will join European leaders in London for Sunday’s defence summit.
Mr Trudeau, whose nation is a Nato member, will join other allies at the gathering at Lancaster House.
Two killed in Kherson as Sir Keir works on ceasefire
12:43
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Barney Davis
A Russian drone attack on the Ukrainian city of Kherson has killed one person and injured six, according to local officials.
Also in Ukraine's southern Kherson region on Sunday - an area mostly occupied by Russia early in the war but later partially retaken by Ukrainian forces - a man was killed in another drone attack 35 miles away in a village on the right bank of the Dnieper River, regional head Oleksandr Prokudin said.
On the other side of the river, Moscow-appointed officials in the Russian-occupied part of Kherson said two people had died in Ukrainian shelling on Sunday.
Moscow sent 79 drones into Ukraine overnight into Sunday, Ukrainian officials said. According to Ukraine's Air Force, 63 drones were destroyed and 16 were "lost", likely having been electronically jammed.
The deaths came as Sir Keir Starmer announced on Sunday that the UK, France and Ukraine have agreed to work on a ceasefire plan to present to the United States.
Sir Keir Starmer meets with leaders of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to discuss roles to deliver peace in Ukraine
12:40
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Millie Cooke
Earlier this morning Sir Keir Starmer met with representatives of the three Baltic states, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
A Downing Street spokesperson said of the meeting: “The PM welcomed their leading contributions in support of Ukraine since Russia’s illegal invasion began.
“The Prime Minister updated them on his discussions with the leaders of Ukraine, France and the United States in recent days – and underlined his focus on securing a lasting peace in Ukraine that ensures their future sovereignty, backed up by strong security guarantees.
“They all agreed that Europe must unite and drive forward urgent action that will secure the best outcome, which will be vital for Europe’s future security.
“The Prime Minister updated on his plans to convene leaders in London later today for further discussions and they agreed to stay in close contact in the coming weeks.”
UK and Italy have 'similiar mindset' on Ukraine war
12:21
Sir Keir Starmer has told Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni that they approach the issue of the conflict in Ukraine with a “very similar mindset”.
Starmer said it’s “fantastic” to have Meloni in the UK. The British prime minister said:
“I am very much looking forward to having the opportunity today to talk to you about the important issues that face us - I think we approach them with a very similar mindset.
Speaking in Downing Street, Ms Meloni said that in a “precious moment” it is “very important to talk to each other, to co-ordinate”.
Pro-Ukraine protesters rally outside White House after Trump-Zelensky clash
12:12
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Barney Davis
Watch live: Keir Starmer hosts European leaders to discuss support for Ukraine after Zelensky-Trump clash
12:11
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Tom Watling
The UK and Italy can play an important bridge building role, says Meloni
11:51
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Tom Watling
Giorgia Meloni has said the UK and Italy can play an important bridge-building role, warning that any division in the West "will make us all weaker".
The Italian prime minister thanked Sir Keir Starmer for convening the summit of European nations taking place this afternoon, saying the UK and Italy are "very co-ordinated in the goal we want to achieve, which is a just and lasting peace in Ukraine".
Speaking alongside Sir Keir Starmer in Downing Street ahead of a meeting between the two leaders, Ms Meloni added: "I think it is very important that we avoid the risk that the west divides. And I think on this, the UK and Italy can play an important role in bridge building."
"If we divide ourselves that will make us all weaker", she warned.
EU foreign policy chief: We must put pressure on Russia
11:48
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Tom Watling
The European Union’s foreign policy chief has said Ukraine’s backers must put political and economic pressure on Russia to stop this war.
Speaking to CBS News’ Face the Nation, Kaja Kallas called for more pressure to be put on Russia.
We need to make sure that Russia doesn’t attack again.
— Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) March 2, 2025
And for that, we need to put political and economic pressure on Russia to stop this war, and at the same time, also help Ukraine defend itself.
Extract from my interview @FaceTheNation ↓ pic.twitter.com/xDE1hWz6RG
In pictures: Meloni arrives at Downing Street
11:39
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Tom Watling
Why is Giorgia Meloni getting the special treatment from Starmer?
11:34
Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni is the only European leader getting an official one-to-one tete-a-tete with Keir Starmer today.
He is not carving out the same time for French president Emmanuel Macron, Nato chief Mark Ritte or the Germans, which may seem surprising.
But that is because Ms Meloni has gone from being seen as a far-right fringe aberration to one of the key leaders in Europe.
The Italian prime minister has consistently had very warm relationships with the UK, including Sir Keir and even more so with his predecessor Rishi Sunak. The political flirtation has been drawing comments for some time.
But she is also one of the most important links with the Trump administration. US president Donald Trump and vice president JD Vance see her as an ideological fellow traveller and like her to the extent that she was a guest of honour at the inauguration.
The other European Union leader close to Mr Trump - Hungary’s Viktor Orban - is seen as much too pro-Putin to be trusted. So Ms Meloni, Sir Keir and Mr Macron are now the three key figures in getting all the parties back at the table and repairing the damage caused in the Oval Office on Friday.
Added to that, Italy is one of the few countries spending less than the 2 per cent on its defence, despite it being the minimum required of a Nato member. Given Mr Trump wants Europe to pay for its own defence, she is going to have to step up and that will be a message Sir Keir is relaying firmly.
Italy PM arrives at Downing Street
11:22
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Tom Watling
Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni has arrived at Downing Street to meet with Sir Keir Starmer ahead of a meeting of European leaders later today.
The Italian PM, leader of a hard right party that has adopted a more moderate approach to governing since winning power in 2022, is known to have close ties with US president Donald Trump.
She held a phone call with Mr Trump yesterday.
Ukraine FM: No one wants peace more than Ukraine
11:22
Ukraine’s foreign minister has said that no one wants peace more than them.
In a statement on X, Andrii Sybiha praised Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky for his work to achieve peace.
“No country in the world wants peace in Ukraine more than Ukraine itself. And no one works harder to achieve it than President Zelensky,” he wrote on X.
“A just and lasting peace that guarantees our people the security they deserve, we will keep working with all of our partners to achieve it.”
No country in the world wants peace in Ukraine more than Ukraine itself. And no one works harder to achieve it than President @ZelenskyyUa—a just and lasting peace that guarantees our people the security they deserve. We will keep working with all of our partners to achieve it.
— Andrii Sybiha (@andrii_sybiha) March 2, 2025
A just peace is the goal in Ukraine, military support can lead to it, Czech PM says
11:15
A just peace that holds must be the goal in Ukraine, and military aid for the country as it fights a Russian invasion will help lead to that, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said on Sunday.
“The goal for all of us is a just peace, a peace that holds,” he said before travelling to London to meet other European and western leaders.
“We have to, even more, militarily help Ukraine, and we have to in the future make Ukraine militarily stronger, because only that will be a guarantee of long-term peace.”
Starmer’s trade deal hopes have run into a big problem – JD Vance
11:00
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Tom Watling
King Charles shows solidarity with Zelensky in invite to Sandringham after Trump clash
10:43
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Tom Watling
Kremlin heaps praise on Trump and brands Europe warmongers
10:35
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Tom Watling
The Kremlin is continuing to heap praise on US president Donald Trump and criticise Europe for its support of Ukraine as European leaders convene in London today for a meeting to ensure Kyiv is protected against future Russian aggression.
Vladimir Putin is staying quiet but his long-serving foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, who is leading the Russian delegation in talks with the Trump administration, is being vocal. As is Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.
In an interview published this morning with Krasnaya Zvezda, the Russian defence ministry’s official publication, Mr Lavrov describes Mr Trump as a pragmatist with the slogan “common sense”. “That’s why it is interesting [talking to him],” he says.
He adds that while the US wants to end the conflict, Europe is demanding a “continuation of the banquet” and its talk of installing a peacekeeping force in Ukraine is an “incitement” of war against Russia.
It is no coincidence that there seems to be a crossover between the Kremlin and the Trump administration’s talking points.
Kyiv and Europe are adamant this force is necessary to prevent Russia from using a pause in fighting to recover its armed forces and attack Ukraine again, as they have done previously.
Mr Trump says the US will not get involved with a peacekeeping force and has claimed that Mr Putin would not go back on his word to him.
Mr Peskov, meanwhile, has told the main Russian television channel Rossiya-1 that if Mr Trump and Mr Putin maintain their political will, their path to normalising relations between the two countries can be swiftly completed.
He said the new US administration’s foreign policy configurations coincided with the Russian view “to a larger extent”.
He pointed to the US siding with Russia last weekend in United Nations resolutions on Ukraine as evidence of this. Previously, he said, that would have been “impossible to imagine”.
Trump has lost his right to lead the free west – Starmer must step up
10:17
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Tom Watling
Starmer should use Trump's state visit to leverage security guarantees from US, Ed Davey says
10:08
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Tom Watling
Sir Ed Davey said Sir Keir Starmer should use Donald Trump’s upcoming state visit to the UK to leverage security guarantees from the US.
He denied that the visit should be cancelled, telling the BBC: “What we’ve said in the Liberal Democrats all along is that the state visit should be used to secure guarantees for Ukraine.”
A security guarantee from the US aimed at enforcing a peace deal is “not there yet”, Sir Ed said.
He added: “Therefore, I think we should use every single card that we have, and I think it should be made clear to the White House that the state visit would be a genuine one, we would welcome him here, but on condition that he steps up, that the US steps up, to work with the UK and Europe to support and defend Ukraine.”
10:02
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Tom Watling
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has channelled Donald Trump’s mantra of peace through strength as she called on Europe to undertake a “surge” in defence.
The leading EU figure, who is on her way to London for a summit led by Sir Keir Starmer, wrote on X that “the path to peace is strength,” before adding: “Weakness breeds more war.”
You can see her full statement below.
European leaders are heading to London off the back of an astonishing clash between Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky and Mr Trump on Friday.
Mr Trump has been adamant that Europe must shoulder the burden of Ukraine’s defence.
On my way to London to highlight Europe’s ongoing support to Ukraine that can lead to just and lasting peace in Ukraine.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) March 2, 2025
The path to peace is strength.
Weakness breeds more war.
We will support Ukraine, while undertaking a surge in European defence.
Reeves loans £2bn in frozen Russian assets to fund weapons in Ukraine
10:00
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Tom Watling
Sir Ed Davey accuses Trump and Vance of ‘premeditated attack’ on Zelensky
09:53
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Tom Watling
The Lib Dem leader has told BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg that he was “shocked and appalled” by the scenes in the White House on Friday.
He agreed with those who believed US president Donald Trump and vice president JD Vance’s attack on Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky was a “premeditated” ambush.
Sir Ed Davey has not thrown his support behind cancelling the state visit of Mr Trump but wants it to be used to leverage support from America for a military peacekeeping force.
He is more fulsome in his support for British boots on the ground as part of a closer cooperation with the European Union going forward.
“We cannot rely unfortunately as we have done on the United States.”
Kemi Badenoch: My ‘heart went out’ to Zelensky over Oval Office clash
09:51
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Tom Watling
Kemi Badenoch has said her “her heart went out” to Volodymyr Zelensky after the Oval Office clash with Donald Trump on Friday, saying that the Ukrainian president was “being humiliated”.
Asked what her initial reaction to the meeting was, the Tory leader said: “Honestly, my heart went out to president Zelensky. I watched it, and I couldn't believe what was happening. He was being humiliated.
“I don't think we should conduct these sorts of difficult conversations in front of the cameras, and we have to remember that president Zelensky is a hero.
“He is the person who represents that strength and resilience of the Ukrainian people, and whatever differences and difficulties we might have during negotiations, we need to be able to set them aside when everyone's watching, because the only person who would have liked that would have been Vladimir Putin.”
Who will attend today’s summit in London?
09:49
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Tom Watling
Nearly 20 leaders from Europe and North America will attend a summit today, hosted by Sir Keir Starmer in London’s Lancaster House, a 200-year-old elegant mansion near Buckingham Palace.
Sir Keir will first welcome to Downing Street Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, known as the Donald Trump whisperer for her good relations with the US president, before moving on to Lancaster House.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky will be the main man at the meeting. He received widespread support after being berated by Mr Trump and US vice president JD Vance on Friday in the White House.
French president Emmanel Macron, German chancellor Olaf Scholz, Canada's prime minister Justin Trudeau and Nato secretary general Mark Rutte will be among others attending.
Leaders from Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Finland, Sweden, the Czech Republic and Romania will also be in attendance, as will the two European Union chiefs Antonio Costa and Ursula von der Leyen.
The Turkish foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, will also be there. Turkey has signalled its willingness to act as a host for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. It hosted the initial peace talks back in March 2022.
Video: Trump and Vance clash with Zelensky
09:39
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Tom Watling
Below, we remind you of the astonishing White House clash on Friday between US president Donald Trump, vice president JD Vance and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky.
Starmer has replaced Trump as the key figure to win peace
09:38
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David Maddox
Before a lasting peace can be achieved between Ukraine and Russia, peace must be found between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky first.
Sir Keir Starmer, maybe by happy chance or maybe by the UK’s historic role as the bridge between Europe and the USA, has emerged as the man to bring people back together.
His conference this weekend on the back of his own successful trip to the White House on Thursday has put him in the leadership role the world now needs.
People may look back on this week as the making of Keir Starmer as a serious politician and international statesman.
Keir Starmer breaks silence on Trump and Zelensky clash
09:30
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Tom Watling
How reliant is Ukraine on US weapons as Trump threatens to withdraw?
09:28
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Tom Watling
