Key events

• 21m ago

  Macron, Merz leave Downing Street after talks with Zelenskyy

• 41m ago

  Starmer meets Zelenskyy: is a new peace plan possible? – podcast

• 2h ago

  Sombre tone of leaders’s comments reveals the scale of challenge they face — snap analysis

• 2h ago

  Germany ‘sceptical’ about some US proposals, Merz notes, but Europe ‘has cards in our hands,’ Macron says

• 3h ago

  US may end support for Ukraine war effort, says Donald Trump Jr

• 4h ago

  Freedom of speech allows for completely crazy statements, EU says in response to Musk

• 4h ago

  No agreement on territory in peace talks, Zelenskyy says

• 4h ago

  Zelenskyy to meet Nato, EU leaders in Brussels later today

• 5h ago

  Territory remains ‘most problematic’ issue for ending Ukraine war, official says

• 5h ago

  The Netherlands to spend €700m on military support for Ukraine in early 2026

• 6h ago

  EU ‘cannot accept threat to interfere in European politics,’ EU’s Costa says

• 6h ago

  Kremlin welcomes US security strategy with its pointed criticism of Europe

• 6h ago

  Seven EU countries back reparations loan for Ukraine as ‘politically realistic solution’

• 7h ago

  Morning opening: London talks

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Macron, Merz leave Downing Street after talks with Zelenskyy

France’s Macron and Germany’s Merz have now left Downing Street, with the four leaders showing up together outside the No10 door for that collective photo I spoke about earlier (14:05).

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, prime minister of the United Kingdom Sir Keir Starmer, German chancellor Friedrich Merz and French president Emmanuel Macron outside 10 Downing Street in London. Photograph: James Veysey/Shutterstock

They both have government business to attend back home, with Macron particularly needing to move quickly as he is set to welcome Croatia’s prime minister Andrej Plenković in Paris at 5pm local.

Merz is expected on ARD Arena TV show to sum up his year a bit later in the evening.

Zelenskyy and Starmer are back inside for bilateral talks now.

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Updated at 10.00 EST

Writing after their talks in London, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has just posted a picture of the four leaders at 10 Downing Street with a caption:

“Guaranteeing real security is always a shared challenge and a shared effort. Thank you for your support!”

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Updated at 09.50 EST

Starmer meets Zelenskyy: is a new peace plan possible? – podcast

As Keir Starmer hosts Volodymyr Zelenskyy in London, the Guardian’s Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss what the ‘coalition of the willing’ can achieve.

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Sombre tone of leaders’s comments reveals the scale of challenge they face — snap analysis

Jakub Krupa

The sombre tone of the opening remarks was highly telling: it’s clear that this was not merely another photo opportunity designed to merely convey solidarity with Zelenskyy, but they face urgent – increasingly so – issues that need to be resolved soon.

All four of them have made it very clear that they find themselves in a tricky position, but desperattely need to keep the Americans on side – as difficult as it is. Not surprisingly, it was Zelenskyy who stressed this point the most.

But two other bits are also worth noting.

Macron’s swipe at the US administration that Europe has “a lot of cards in our hands” – a clear reference to Trump’s explosive comments to Zelenskyy in February – is also notable, and appears to show his frustration and desire – or demand – to be seen by the US and Russia as equal partners. It will be interesting if they can come up with something that would make Washington and Moscow stand up and take notice.

Also, Germany’s Merz was the only leader to explicitly flag his “scepticism” of some of the US proposals.

It may not sound entirely surprising given the current context and the evolution of his views on this in the past few months, but remember that this is a politician who for decades had been one of the most ardent advocates of the transatlantic relationship. He is now increasingly having his doubts about this Trump administration, it seems.

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Updated at 08.48 EST

Germany ‘sceptical’ about some US proposals, Merz notes, but Europe ‘has cards in our hands,’ Macron says

Let me bring you the opening comments from the four leaders as they begin their talks at 10 Downing Street.

From left, German chancellor Friedrich Merz, British prime minister Keir Starmer, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and French president Emmanuel Macron meet at 10 Downing Street, in London. Photograph: Toby Melville/AP

Opening, UK’s Starmer stresses the need for a just and lasting peace settlement for Ukraine.

Responding, Zelenskyy thanked Starmer for organising the meeting. He says it’s an important moment to discuss all “sensitive” issues.

He talks about the importance of unity between Europe, Ukraine, and the US. Zelenskyy says there are things “we can’t manage without Americans, … we can’t manage without Europe.”

Macron says “we all support Ukraine and peace,” as he says “we have a lot of cards in our hands”, as he talks about options for Europe and Russia’s increasingly suffering economy.

He talks the need to find a way to bring Europe and the US closer to agree the path forward.

Germany’s Merz says “these could be decisive” days “for all of us” on Ukraine.

He mentions the US-led peace talks, and says “we are and remain strongly behind Ukraine,” as he says “the destiny of this country is the destiny of Europe.”

He says he is “sceptical” about “some of the details coming in the documents from the US side,” and says that’s what he wants to talk with other leaders about.

And they will now continue the talks behind the closed doors.

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Updated at 08.36 EST

Aaaaand here we go: Zelenskyy arrives, gets a big hug from Starmer, and they pose for photos with pretty sombre look on their faces.

British prime minister Keir Starmer greets Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy at 10 Downing Street, as E3 partners France, Germany and Britain meet in London, Britain. Photograph: Hannah McKay/Reuters

The Ukrainian president then talks to Starmer about Larry for a moment pointing at the cat, and they walk in.

Larry the cat walks near British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at 10 Downing Street, as E3 partners France, Germany and Britain meet in London, Britain. Photograph: Hannah McKay/ReutersShare

Updated at 08.15 EST

Jakub Krupa

Let Larry in, it’s cold!

Larry the Cat sits outside 10 Downing Street, on the day of a Coalition of the Willing meeting, in London, Britain. Photograph: Toby Melville/ReutersShare

Updated at 08.07 EST

Jakub Krupa

There is a part of me wondering if we could see the three leaders come out to welcome Zelenskyy together outside the famous No10 doors in a show of unity and solidarity with Ukraine.

Or not. It’s, admittedly, a pure speculation.

Still better than the current chat outside No10 on whether Zelenskyy has stopped somewhere for Christmas shopping, though.

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So we are now waiting for Ukraine’s Zelenskyy, who is expected shortly.

Larry the Cat also wants to be involved in today’s talks, it seems, but much to his annoyance he appears to left out the front doors at the moment.

Larry the cat moves away as British prime minister Keir Starmer greets French president Emmanuel Macron at 10 Downing Street, as E3 partners France, Germany and Britain meet in London, Britain. Photograph: Hannah McKay/ReutersShare

Macron arrives next, with a big wave and thumbs up to the reporters gathered outside. But, apart from a polite “thank you,” he also doesn’t engage with the many questions shouted at him.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer greets French President Emmanuel Macron at 10 Downing Street, as E3 partners France, Germany and Britain meet in London, Britain. Photograph: Isabel Infantes/Reuters

Also, a note to fellow journalists camped outside No10: no, I really don’t think his officials carry a nuclear bomb in a Gucci bag. Also, Gucci is Italian!

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Updated at 07.56 EST

Jakub Krupa

But, to be fair to the German punctuality joke guy, Merz actually did arrive on time.

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And just like that Merz arrives at 10 Downing Street, with questions shouted at him and Starmer on whether the US plan is too soft on Russia, if the US is sidelining Europe, and if UK troops will be deployed to Ukraine.

They don’t engage, but smile, wave, and go inside.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer greets German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at 10 Downing Street, as E3 partners France, Germany and Britain meet in London. Photograph: Isabel Infantes/ReutersShare

For a fellow journalist wondering on stream if Merz “is the same guy who was here last week”: no, that was the German president, Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Here they are for reference:

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, right, presents Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz with his certificate of appointment at Bellevue Palace in Berlin, following his election by the German Bundestag. Photograph: Bernd von Jutrczenka/APShareJakub Krupa

If you’re listening to our live stream from Downing Street now, you can learn a thing or two about how this sort of occasions play out for journalists that cover them.

We have just been given a five minute warning for the arrival of German chancellor Friedrich Merz, which someone adding a joke playing on the German stereotype of punctuality, saying: “oh, Germany? They will be on time then.”

(Oh, bless him. Don’t tell him about the state of things at Deutsche Bahn.)

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Updated at 07.51 EST

US may end support for Ukraine war effort, says Donald Trump Jr

Patrick Wintour

Sitting down for their talks this afternoon, European leaders will be painfully aware of all sorts of comments coming from the US side over the weekend, including from the president Donald Trump’s oldest son.

White House threat to pull support for Ukraine ‘common sense’, says Donald Trump Jr – video

Donald Trump Jr warned that his father may walk away from the Ukrainian war in a lengthy tirade against the purpose of continued fighting in Ukraine, as he also claimed Ukraine’s “corrupt” rich had fled their country leaving “what they believed to be the peasant class” to fight the war.

Trump Jr has no formal role inside his father’s administration, but is a key figure in the Maga movement. His intervention reflects the antipathy among some inside the Trump team towards the Ukrainian government, and comes as Trump’s negotiating team is putting pressure on Kyiv to give up territory.

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