European summit RECAP: Continent on the brink as Starmer urges united front against Putin

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After the summit, King Charles held two private audiences.

The first was with Sir Keir Starmer - the second meeting they had since the July 4 election.

The other audience held by the King was with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Mr Zelensky took to X afterwards to mark the event.

French President Emmanuel Macron has welcomed attempts by the new Labour government to reset Britain's relations with the EU, but warned London can't "cherry pick" a new deal".

Speaking after the EPC summit, Mr Macron said "one obviously has to respect what was decided and signed" in the original deal and "should not be a sort of cherry picking" in order to improve it.

However, he added: "But if this is a comprehensive approach in order to reset relations, I think this is a very important moment."

Keir Starmer praised his predecessor, Rishi Sunak, during his speech at the summit.

Mr Starmer said Mr Sunak had "been incredibly statesmanlike and generous since the election", adding: "And I thought he made that very clear in the way that he replied to the King’s Speech yesterday.

"The relationship that he struck up with Italy was important. We’ve got a long relationship between our two countries and we’ve both had the opportunity today to make clear that we want to continue with that strength of relationship."

Keir Starmer has announced £84million of new funding for projects across Africa and the Middle East in a bid to curb migration.

The funds would be used for humanitarian and health support, the PM said, as well as skills training and access to education.

During the summit, the PM said, the European partners held proficuous discussions about security in Europe and how to support Ukraine against the ongoing Russian aggression.

Stating "our security starts in Ukraine", Mr Starmer said leaders committed to stand "together with Ukraine" for "as long as it takes".

Leaders, he added, are also to come together to protect Moldova, the subject of Russian interference.

Keir Starmer was set to deliver his speech at around 5pm - but he is only starting to speak now.

King Charles is hosting a reception for European leaders in Blenheim Palace's Long Library.

Volodymyr Zelensky met Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić on the sidelines of the summit.

Speaking about their meeting, he wrote on X: "During the meeting with Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić, we discussed security issues and bilateral relations development.

"I am grateful for Serbia’s participation in the first Global Peace Summit and its endorsement of the Joint Communiqué.

"We appreciate the financial and humanitarian assistance provided to our country."

Keir Starmer is the first leader to address fellow politicians during the closing summary.

The UK Prime Minister spoke about tackling the "vile trade" of people smuggling, in reference to small boats crossing the Channel.

Mr Starmer called the crossings a "crisis", with a "criminal empire profiting on human misery and desperation".

European nations, he added, have an opportunity to "set a new path" on illegal migration by pooling together their resources and sharing tactics to shut down smuggling routes and "smash the gangs".

Russia replied to Ursula von der Leyen's pledge to focus her second term as European Commission President on security and defence.

Commenting on it, the Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "This once again confirms the attitude of European states towards militarisation, towards escalation of tensions, towards confrontation and towards relying on confrontational methods in their foreign policy."

Mr Peskov went on to claim Russia, which unlawfully invaded Ukraine two years ago, has not and does not present any threat to anyone in the EU.

The Albanian Prime Minister has been pictured wearing a very casual choice of footwear despite the formal nature of the European Summit.

European leaders have gathered for a "family photo" at the major summit hosted by Sir Keir Starmer at Blenheim Palace.

French President Emmanuel Macron, and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky are among the leaders gathering in Oxfordshire to discuss shared security issues.

Earlier, Starmer told attendees his government is looking to find "solutions that will actually deliver results", whilst approaching issues with "humanity and a profound respect for international law".

It was for this reason that the Rwanda scheme was scrapped, and why the UK "will never withdraw" from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) under his leadership, he said.

The newly elected PM insisted European countries still need to do more and "stand together" to "guard Europe's frontiers".

"There must be a collective will to shoot them down just like the Iranian missiles and drones," he said.

"Your bravery can be decisive," Zelensky insisted.

"People should feel Europe is becoming closer," he added.

Starmer also said his government is looking to find "solutions that will actually deliver results", whilst approaching issues with "humanity and a profound respect for international law".

It was for this reason that the Rwanda scheme was scrapped, and why the UK "will never withdraw" from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) under his leadership.

Speaking at Blenheim Palace, the ancestral home of Winston Churchill, Sir Noted that the war-time PM was among the chief architects of the convention.

Starmer said under his Labour government, Britain will be a "friend and a partner, ready to work with you... not focused on the differences between us, but on the values that we share".

"Many have seen attacks on our own democracy", he added, including "military planes entering our airspace and ships patrolling our coast".

He said European countries need to do more and "stand together" to "guard Europe's frontiers".

Addressing his European counterparts at Blenheim Palace, Sir Keir Starmer said the: "The task is urgent, our security is on the line."

He paid tribute to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for his efforts to protect European values.

The Prime Minister vowed that Ukraine's allies "will stand with you for as long as it takes".

Volodymyr Zelensky lauded the UK's "resolve" in supporting Ukraine as he arrived in Britain for the international summit.

Writing on X, formerly Twitter, Zelensky said: "The countries of the European area are gathering for the fourth time at the European Political Community Summit to discuss common issues and challenges.

"I have arrived in the UK to participate in the Summit, hold bilateral meetings with partners, and sign new security agreements.

"A separate program is scheduled for our relations with the United Kingdom.

"I will meet with His Majesty King Charles III, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, government officials, and executives from defense companies.

"We will sign an intergovernmental agreement on support for the Ukrainian defense and industrial complex, discuss future defense cooperation, and expand our defense capabilities.

"Since the first days of the full-scale invasion, the UK has been one step ahead in its determination to support Ukraine. This is the kind of resolve we need to stop Russian terror."

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban raised two fists as he posed on arrival at the summit today.

Orban was strongly rebuked by EU chief Ursula von der Leyen over what she called as an "appeasement mission" meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin this month.

It came after the Hungarian leader made a similar, unannounced, meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky, during which he urged the Ukrainian President to accept a ceasefire.

Keir Starmer says Paris and London will mark a "new chapter" as he welcomes President Macron to the summit in Oxfordshire.

In a piece for French newspaper Le Monde, the Prime Minister says a stronger relationship with France is "essential" and that his government is "determined to reset" the relationship between the two countries.

"Our two nations are pillars of European security and stability, and so we have a particular responsibility to respond" to Putin's war in Ukraine, the Labour leader writes.

"We can never allow aggression to prevail on our continent," he added.

Starmer says he wants to see increased cooperation on defence and security with European partners, and will discuss the need for ceasefire in Gaza, illegal migration and climate change with his French counterpart.

He also committed to upholding the European Convention on Human Rights, saying, "This government will approach this issue with humanity and with profound respect for international law".

Ursula von der Leyen is desperately scrambling to gather support among MEPs as she faces a crucial vote that could torpedo her career in Brussels.

The German politician has chosen to stay away from the NATO summit in Washington this week, as she hits the phones to plea with EU lawmakers to back her candidacy for a second term as European Commission President.

Von der Leyen is the choice of many of Europe's national leaders to fill the prestigious post, but she needs a majority of MEPs to sanction her appointment.

MEPs will vote in a secret ballot in the coming days that will determine whether the German politician can reprise her former role.

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The summit, which Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer reportedly hopes will reset the UK’s relationship with Europe has suffered a major blow when it was revealed European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen would not be attending.

She will instead be in France during Thursday's event, attempting to persuade EU lawmakers to ratify her appointment for a second five-year term at the head of the EU executive.

Eric Mamer, the Commission’s chief spokesperson, told POLITICO earlier this week: "The president is in Strasbourg for the plenary of the European Parliament and will therefore not take part in the EPC this week."