Cachella Smith
Live reporter

Starmer, Badenoch and Davey all placed focus on Ukraine in this week's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg.

Questions posed to each of the three party leaders were almost identical, with Ukraine, Trump, Zelensky, and defence spending the hot topics of the day.

The fallout between Trump and Zelensky at the White House on Friday sparked different reactions from each of them.

Davey was "shocked and appalled", Badenoch's "heart went out to President Zelensky" and Starmer said "nobody wants to see that".

All eyes now turn to the summit of European leaders taking place in London this afternoon.

Before this, Starmer is due to meet President Zelensky - the Ukrainian president will then meet with King Charles III this afternoon.

Starmer wants today's meeting to clarify what a European security guarantee would look like, as part of continuing efforts to secure peace in Ukraine. The PM also reiterated his role as a "bridge" in international discussions.

Our political coverage continues, you can keep an eye on the latest developments from Starmer, Zelensky and the summit of European leaders in our dedicated live page.

Thanks for joining us, we hope to see you back next week for Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg.

Image source, BBC/Sunday with Laura Keunssberg

Kuenssberg's last guest on today's show was Lib Dems leader Ed Davey, here's what you need to know:

• Davey said he was "shocked and appalled" at Friday's events in the Oval Office, calling the exchange a "premeditated attack" by US President Donald Trump and Vice-President JD Vance
• He also said he'd support what the prime minister has described as a "coalition of the willing" to provide security guarantees to Ukraine in the event of a peace deal, only "if there is a credible" deal
• Asked if Trump's invitation for a second state visit should be rescinded, Davey said the visit "should be used to secure guarantees for Ukraine"

• Davey concluded that the UK can't "rely" on the US as much as it has done in the past, adding that the relationship between the two countries is "under strain"

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch's appearance on this morning's show echoed the same topics as Starmer's, here's a reminder of what she said:

Responding to Friday's showdown at the White House, she said she "couldn't believe" what was happening, and that her "heart went out to President Zelensky".

Badenoch emphasised that Russian leader Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine and could withdraw at any point, describing him as a "villain".

She also repeated her calls for an increase in defence spending to 3% of GDP, arguing that the funds would come from economic growth, claiming Labour is "reducing growth".

"It is critical that Ukraine is at the table" for any peace negotiation, she added.

Keir Starmer's appearance on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg precedes what will be a jam-packed day for the prime minister.

For the latest on his upcoming meeting with Zelensky and a summit of European leaders, head to our dedicated live page.

If you missed his interview or need a recap, here's what he said:

• OnUS President Donald Trump's fallout with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday, Starmer said: "Nobody wants to see that"
• The UK and France will work with Kyiv to stop the war with Russia, and discuss the plan with the US going forward, the prime minister tells Laura
• Starmer named his three essential points to achieve "lasting peace"; a strong Ukraine, a European element with security guarantees, and a US backstop

• The prime minister told Laura he doesn't trust Putin but he does trust both Trump and Zelensky - using the opportunity to highlight again the relationship between the UK and the US

What a show!

The Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch and Lib Dems chief Ed Davey have all taken their turns being quizzed by Laura.

We also heard from the panellists, dissecting what has been a busy week for UK and international politics.

We'll continue to bringing you analysis and summaries of what happened on today's show. Stick with us.

Davey tells Kuenssberg now that the UK can't "rely" on the US as much as we have done previously.

He explains the prime minister is "right" to treasure the relationship but adds that it is evidently "under strain".

Concluding his interview, he calls Trump "unreliable" and underlines the need for "alternatives".

Lib Dem leader Ed Davey is now asked whether Trump's invitation for a second state visit should be rescinded.

Davey says: "No I don't... the state visit should be used to secure guarantees for Ukraine". .

Davey says security guarantees are needed in any peace deal, and "we should use every card that we have".

Davey adds the government must make clear to Trump that the state visit is "on the condition" that the US supports and defends Ukraine.

Kuenssberg quizzes Davey on whether this is a realistic demand to make of the US president and he responds that the government could be "implicit" in its message.

Davey is asked about what Prime Minister Keir Starmer has described as the "coalition of the willing" - a situation in which British and French troops would guard a potential peace deal.

He responds by saying he would support it "if there is a credible peace deal" that Ukraine supports.

Liberal Democrats Ed Davey's interview begins in the same fashion as Starmer's and Badenoch's, as he is quizzed on his thoughts following the Trump-Zelensky showdown in the White House on Friday.

"Shocked and appalled" was Davey's reaction - going further to call the exchange a "premeditated attack" by the president and vice president.

He adds that this worries people because it indicates Trump is not as "predictable and reliable" as his predecessors.

Badenoch is now being asked about her calls for a further increase in defence spending.

As a reminder, Badenoch called on the UK government to increase defence spending further to 3% of national income by the end of this Parliament - an increase from the 2.5% announced by the government, she wrote in the Telegraph.

Quizzed on where the money would come from, Badenoch says it requires "economic growth" and claims Labour is "reducing growth".

Challenged again on where cuts would be made, Badenoch says she will not make "policy on the fly" and it requires "real thinking".

"We have to look seriously at our whole economy", she says.

Laura now puts a direct question to Badenoch, she asks: "Does President Trump know who the villain is?"

The US has a "long history with Russia", Badenoch begins, but we have had more recent issues she says - citing the Salisbury poisonings.

The leader of the opposition underlines that sometimes in the "heat of the moment" things can be forgotten. She emphasises that Putin invaded and could withdraw at any point.

President Trump is practising his own kind of diplomacy, she says, while adding that Putin is the villain.

Attention has now turned to leader of the Lib Dems, Ed Davey, we'll continue to bring the latest from Kemi Badenoch as Laura gets under way with her next interview.

Kuenssberg continues to push Badenoch on the clash between Trump and Zelensky on Friday, asking the Conservative leader if it was an "ambush".

Badenoch says she does not agree and says both parties were representing their "respective national interests".

She adds the absence of a translator was not helpful for Zelensky, but calls for the talks to get "back on track".

"It is critical that Ukraine is at the table" for any peace negotiation, she adds.

Badenoch is now asked about the White House meeting on Friday.

"Honestly my heart went out to President Zelensky," she responds.

She adds that she "couldn't believe" what was happening and says the Ukrainian president was "humiliated".

Zelensky is a "hero" - a line she has reiterated following a statement she made yesterday. She continues to say the only person who would have liked what happened was Putin.

Kemi Badenoch's interview begins with a question of her party's support for what the prime minister described as the "coalition of the willing".

She responds by saying it's important to find out what this means exactly and where the money will be coming from.

"We shouldn't be doing it on our own," she says.

She adds that it's important today's summit goes well and that she supports him in that.

"This is a key issue of national interest," she says.

Starmer has vacated the famous red seat and in his stead Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch is now speaking with Laura.

We'll be bringing you the latest updates as she's quizzed by Kuenssberg. Stay with us.

We're now hearing from Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, who is chair of the Ukrainian parliament's EU integration committee.

She says efforts need to be made to "reengage" the US administration "on the right side of history".

When asked what people are feeling in Ukraine, she describes Ukrainians having to hide in shelters from Russian drones.

"We are tired, exhausted but very resolute people. We want to live," she says before adding, "If we fail, it won't be our failure because we've done more than anyone could have imagined".

We're onto the panel now and CNN's chief international correspondent, Christiane Amanpour, begins by saying that Starmer made it clear today that the whole alliance understands that Russia is the aggressor, and says they stand with Ukraine.

TV Presenter Piers Morgan then says that Starmer is having the "best week" he has had since taking office and adds that the prime minister is right not to create more division between the UK and the US.

Chairman of the Republicans Overseas UK Greg Swenson comments on the fiery exchange between Trump and Zelensky last week, saying he thinks it was "prompted by Zelensky".

It wasn't just a misstep on the part of Zelensky but also a missed opportunity, he says, adding that the two leaders were both playing to their domestic base.

Starmer chooses his words carefullypublished at 09:30 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March

09:30 GMT 2 March

Helen Catt
Political correspondent

Sir Keir is clearly choosing his words very carefully in this interview.

No wonder; this is the most delicate of diplomatic situations and live TV interviews come with risk.

So, responding to any questions about the Oval Office clash, he's sticking with a phrase which expresses disappointment without direct criticism: "Nobody wants to see that".

On questions about Donald Trump, he won't be drawn between stating that he belives his motivation towards the Ukraine conflict is that "he does want lasting peace".

Sir Keir is determined to be a bridge, an "honest broker", as one of his ministers would have it.

It could be a tricky position to maintain.

We're bringing you some more now from Starmer's interview which has just finished.

Kuenssberg questions him on what action he is hoping to achieve at the upcoming summit with European leaders today.

Europeans have "stood up" in the last three years - he says - citing aid, money and training provided for Ukraine.

But, he adds, Europe generally needs to do more with our own defence and security - referencing his previous decision to increase defence spending earlier this week.

Today's summit, he says, needs to clarify what a European security guarantee would look like and adds that in the first instance this needs to be a "coalition of the willing".

Kuennsberg says some believe Trump should not be given a second state visit and asks whether this was a "diplomatic enticement" to get Trump "on board".

Starmer says that is for the King to decide, but he is challenged by Kuennsberg who says the government had to approve the decision.

"The King has extended the invitation," he says before adding this is a moment of "fragility" in Europe.

Starmer's interview has now come to an end and Kuenssberg turns her attention to the panel. As a reminder Piers Morgan, Christiane Amanpour and Greg Swenson are on today's show.