Starmer tells leaders step up at ‘once in a generation moment’ at Ukraine summit

Sir Keir Starmer has urged leaders to step up at a “once in a generation moment” for security in Europe at the start of the defence summit on Ukraine.

Leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron and Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte are gathered at Lancaster House in London to forge a common position on ending the war.

The Prime Minister told those present that “this is a once in a generation moment for the security of Europe and we all need to step up.”

He said that getting a good outcome for Ukraine is “vital to the security of every nation here and many others too”.

The summit comes after leaders rallied round Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after his confrontation with Donald Trump at the White House on Friday, which has created a divide between the US and its European partners.

The Prime Minister said that it has been agreed that “a group” will work “with Ukraine on a plan to stop the the fighting and then discuss that with the US and take it forward together”.

Ukraine’s allies need to also continue their support in the moment, Sir Keir said, adding: “Even while Russia talks about peace, they are continuing their relentless aggression.”

He concluded: “That is the agenda and we need to agree what steps come out of this meeting to deliver peace through strength for the benefit of all.”

He had earlier told the BBC that “we’ve now agreed that the United Kingdom, along with France and possibly one or two others, will work with Ukraine on a plan to stop the fighting, and then we’ll discuss that plan with the United States”.

Among those in attendance at the meeting at Lancaster House are Mr Zelensky and Mr Macron as well as German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Canadian Prime Minster Justin Trudeau is also at the meeting, alongside Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission.

Sir Keir told the gathered leaders that a crowd who welcomed Mr Zelensky with applause ahead of his visit to Downing Street over the weekend was “totally spontaneous”.

Addressing the Ukrainian president who was sat alongside him, the Prime Minister added: “I hope you know that we are all with you and the people of Ukraine for as long as it takes. Everyone around this table.”

Sir Keir was flanked by Mr Zelensky and Mr Macron as he delivered his remarks at the top of the meeting.

Leaders had earlier posed for a family photo in front of their national flags before the discussions got under way.

European leaders rallied round to support the Ukrainian president after the scenes in the Oval Office on Friday evening, which saw Mr Trump publicly berating Mr Zelensky.

Sir Keir had earlier told the BBC that the encounter made him feel “uncomfortable”, adding that “nobody wants to see that”.

“The important thing is how to react to that,” Sir Keir told the Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme.

“There are a number of different routes people could go down. One is to ramp up the rhetoric as to how outraged we all are or not.

“The other is to do what I did, which is roll up my sleeves, pick up the phone, talk to President Trump, talk to President Zelensky, then invite President Zelensky for an extensive meeting yesterday, a warm welcome, and then further pick up the phone to President Macron and President Trump afterwards.”