Summary

Media caption,

Starmer: 'I'm clear Trump wants lasting peace'

  1. Starmer says he trusts Zelensky and Trumppublished at 09:23 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March

    In our previous post we reported that Starmer said he does not trust Putin, Kuenssberg turns his attention to Zelensky and Trump.

    Kuenssberg asks "do you trust Zelensky?"

    "Yes", Starmer says,

    "Do you trust Trump?", she asks.

    "Yes", the prime minister responds.

    Laura pushes him on why he trusts Trump in light of what appears to be two different takes on the Ukraine war we have seen from him this week.

    The prime minister references again previous conversations and meetings - underlining he believes Trump's motivation is "lasting peace".

    Starmer rounds off his answer by referring to the relationship between the UK and the US as being the "closest" of any two countries in the world.

  2. Do you trust Putin? 'No', Starmer respondspublished at 09:20 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March

    Kuenssberg asks "Do you trust Putin?"

    "No", he says, "that's why I want a security guarantee".

    Starmer adds that Putin has proven he will "come again", and says that this is something the Russian president has already done.

    This, Starmer says, is an option that needs to be shut out.

  3. Zelensky hasn't done anything wrong, Starmer sayspublished at 09:18 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March

    Starmer answers a question on whether Zelensky has done anything wrong.

    The prime minister says: "No, I think this is a man whose country has been at war for three years."

    He reiterates that Ukraine was invaded by Russia back in 2022.

    Kuenssberg challenges Starmer on why Trump has not been clear on this - he responds saying he doesn't want to speak on behalf of the US president.

  4. Starmer's three must-haves to achieve lasting peacepublished at 09:17 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March

    Keir Starmer

    What are Starmer's three points he believes need to be in place for a lasting peace?

    1. A "strong Ukraine" to fight on if necessary and to be in a strong position to negotiate
    2. A European element with security guarantees
    3. A US backstop

    "All three" need to be in place, he tells Laura this morning.

  5. Ceasefire deal remains a subject for discussion, Starmer sayspublished at 09:15 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March

    As the interview continues to heat up, Starmer is asked what he understands about a potential of a proposed ceasefire deal from Trump.

    He says it means a "lasting peace", but Kuenssberg challenges him further to shift focus back to Trump.

    "You can't have a deal that falls apart and that's what Zelensky is worried about," he says, before adding: Zelensky is "rightly concerned" that a proposed deal "has to hold".

    Kuenssberg asks what the "line" would be between Russia and Ukraine, but the PM says he cannot say this.

    "That's obviously a subject for discussion," he says.

  6. The duality of Trump?published at 09:12 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March

    Laura now puts to Starmer that we have seen "two versions" of Trump this week - one in the Oval Office following their meeting together and then a different version the following day with Zelensky.

    Referencing previous meetings and phone calls, including on Friday and Saturday, the prime minister says "My strong view is [Trump] wants a lasting peace."

    Starmer adds that he agrees with the US president on this, as does Zelensky.

  7. Kuenssberg pushed PM on White House showdownpublished at 09:11 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March

    Starmer says that one way to respond to the White House showdown, which Laura is pushing the PM on, would be to ramp up the rhetoric.

    Another route would be to "roll up your sleeves and pick up the phone", he says.

    He then adds that following his meeting with Zelensky yesterday, the situation is a step forward from where it was on Friday.

  8. 'A step in the right direction' - Starmerpublished at 09:08 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March

    Kuenssberg continues her line of questioning, on the fallout during the White House showdown on Friday.

    Starmer says his conversations with Zelensky, Trump and Macron led to an agreement that the UK - along with France and "possibly one or two others" - will work with Ukraine on a "plan to stop the fighting and then we'll discuss that plan with the United States".

    "I think we've got a step in the right direction", he says.

    Kuenssberg says she will ask Starmer about the details on the proposed plan.

  9. 'Nobody wants to see that': Starmer reacts Trump-Zelensky showdownpublished at 09:07 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March

    Laura begins by asking Starmer about his response to the White House meeting on Friday - which saw a fiery exchange between US President Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky.

    He repeats a number of times that "nobody wants to see" that happen on the international stage, referring to the "tension" while the "cameras are on".

  10. Starmer's interview beginspublished at 09:02 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March

    Keir Starmer and Laura Kuenssberg

    We're getting straight into it this morning - Keir Starmer has taken his seat opposite Laura Kuenssberg and the interview is under way.

    The Primer Minister is the first guest on today's show ahead of what will be a busy day for him - a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and a summit with European and Canadian leaders on Ukraine.

    Conservative Party Leader Kemi Badenoch and Lib Dems chief Ed Davey are set to join Laura shortly - stick with us.

  11. It's showtimepublished at 09:01 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March

    Laura Kuenssberg stands in front of a display

    The opening theme tune has just ended - and we’re live. Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg is now on air on BBC One, the BBC News Channel and BBC iPlayer.

    As a reminder, you can also follow along by pressing watch live at the top of this page. Stay tuned for regular updates and analysis from our team of writers in London.

  12. How to watch the programme livepublished at 08:56 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March

    We're just minutes away from the start of the programme and, as always, you’ll be able to follow along - just click watch live at the top of this page from 09:00 GMT.

    The programme will also be available on BBC One and iPlayer - and we’ll bring you regular text updates, clips, reaction and analysis right here.

    Stay tuned.

  13. Starmer braces for summit with European leaders - follow along with uspublished at 08:51 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March

    Following his appearance on Sunday with Laura Keunssberg, Prime Minister Keir Starmer will be hosting Volodymyr Zelensky and other European leaders at a summit to discuss ongoing efforts to end the war in Ukraine.

    This comes after Starmer and Zelensky signed a £2.26bn loan for Ukrainian military supplies during a meeting at Downing Street yesterday.

    Zelensky is also due to meet with King Charles III in a few hours.

    We'll continue to cover all the developments of the summit, Starmer's meeting with Zelensky and the Ukrainian president's meeting with the King throughout the rest of the day in our dedicated live page.

  14. 'A meltdown, a horror show, a pile on': Starmer now faces decision over who to trustpublished at 08:42 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March

    Laura Kuenssberg
    Presenter, Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg

    Keir Starmer in black and white image. Flag of America and UK behind him. Red sidebar to the right.

    However you want to describe it, the meeting between US President Donald Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office on Friday night was a historic catastrophe: Ukraine and its most important ally in a public slanging match.

    It was a total contrast to what happened on Thursday when Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer met Trump. "Ecstatic", "triumph", "outstanding" were a few of the words used by the PM's team.

    So what now? Sir Keir has some difficult questions to ponder. Does he strive to get his new diplomatic friend at the White House back on board? Or is the new reality that the US just can't be relied on, that the animosity between Trump and Zelensky runs too deep.

    I'll be asking the prime minister these questions myself when he joins us live in the studio at one of the most critical junctures for both his leadership and the security of our continent.

  15. Three party leaders. One Kuenssberg. Who is on the programme today?published at 08:34 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March

    As we've been reporting, joining Laura today is Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who’ll be taking questions a few days days after meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington.

    Kemi Badenoch, leader of the opposition, will be quizzed by Kuenssberg and Lib Dems leader Ed Davey will also take to the hot seat.

    On the panel:

    • Piers Morgan, TV presenter - and a friend of Donald Trump
    • Christiane Amanpour, CNN's chief international correspondent
    • Greg Swenson - the chairman of Republicans Overseas UK
  16. Starmer's show of support for Zelensky earns frontpage spreadpublished at 08:29 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March

    Many of the national papers this morning are showcasing messages of support for Ukraine and President Zelensky following his arrival in the UK yesterday.

    The moment Starmer and Zelensky embraced outside Downing Street yesterday has been widely platformed across national titles.

    The Mail on Sunday's front page reads, "Now stop the state visit for 'bully' Trump", while the Sunday Mirror opts for a more subdued "We've got your back".

    You can take a look at some of the others in our article.

  17. Starmer to join Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg ahead of hosting Ukraine summitpublished at 08:21 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March

    Johanna Chisholm
    Live page editor

    Zelensky and Starmer sit opposite one another with their respective flags draped behind themImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Starmer welcomed Zelensky in Downing Street on Saturday ahead of today's summit of European leaders

    It's certainly not been a quiet week in British politics - or on the international stage - but when is it ever, really?

    Joining Laura today is Prime Minister Keir Starmer, following his meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington before flying back across the Atlantic to welcome Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in London.

    Starmer's meeting with Trump was eclipsed a day later by the fiery exchange between Trump and Zelensky that has led to a tidal wave of international reaction this week - and it will likely crop up as a key focus in today's programme.

    Leader of the opposition Kemi Badenoch and Lib Dems leader Ed Davey are also in the studio and will likely be offering their own two cents on how best to address the relationship between the new US administration and Kyiv.

    Today's panel will include broadcaster Piers Morgan, CNN's chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour, and Greg Swenson, the chairman of Republicans Overseas UK.

    The show starts at 09:00 GMT and we'll be bringing you live updates here throughout or you can follow the stream by pressing watch live at the top of this page.