Starmer hosts key European leaders at summit as Ukraine’s Zelensky declares ‘Putin has not divided us’ - live

Sir Keir Starmer is hosting continental leaders as part of the fourth European Political Community summit.

The prime minister is using the 47-member EPC meeting at Blenheim Palace , the birthplace of Winston Churchill, to push for action to secure the continent’s borders, and reiterate the UK’s support to Ukraine.

Volodymyr Zelensky urged European leaders to channel Winston Churchill’s “bravery” in the fight against the Russian aggression and declared that Putin has sacrificed “tens of thousands of his citizens but has achieved nothing significant”.

During the meeting, senior European leaders and representatives welcomed Sir Keir’s approach on improving post- Brexit relations with Josep Borrell praising the “new tone of the British Government ”

Despite the positive noises being made by EU leaders, David Lammy has warned the UK is unlikely to be able to begin renegotiating a deal with the bloc for some time.

Speaking this morning, he said the European Union and the European Commission will not be up and running until December following their elections.