Sir Keir Starmer has hailed a "breakthrough" in efforts to end Vladimir Putin ’s invasion of Ukraine as Donald Trump said he would broker a meeting between the Ukrainian and Russian presidents. The PM joined Voldymyr Zelensky, French president Emmanuel Macron and Nato secretary general Mark Rutte for crunch talks in the White House on Monday.

Sir Keir Starmer has hailed "real progress" made during a White House summit with European leaders aimed at bringing an end to the war in Ukraine.

Keir Starmer thanked Trump at the top of a multilateral meeting of European leaders and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky

Countries are focused on security guarantees that could take effect after a ceasefire or, preferably, a full peace deal, says Mark Rutte

In the last few hours, the PM has touched down in Washington to join the White House summit, which will be a landmark moment. The UK government hopes President Zelensky will carefully listen to and consider what Trump is offering, and that Starmer will flesh out details of measures to protect and defend Ukraine in the event a peace deal is struck.

The PM was holidaying in Scotland in his family when he and other European leaders were invited to the White House by Donald Trump to discuss the Ukraine war

Sir Keir's role at the White House is likely to rely on the rarity of his strong relationships with both Trump and Zelensky.

Sir Keir Starmer has hailed “real progress” made during the White House summit with European leaders aimed at ending the Ukraine war - and said Europe will work with the US on security guarantees.

It is hard to overplay the sense of despondency and sheer dread felt by Downing Street insiders as they watched Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky trade barbs in the Oval Office.