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.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer spoke to the media after Zelensky met with Trump in Washington D.C, outlining two major outcomes.

European leaders have gathered in Washington as Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky met privately at the White House

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.

Russia’s foreign ministry said UK PM Keir Starmer’s suggestion that he was prepared to deploy such troops was a dangerous ‘escalation’.

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

The prime minister's spokesman said Kyiv was "on an irreversible path" to membership of the military alliance.

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

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

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.