Six weeks since D-Day fallout, Starmer is a world leaderpublished at 12:35 British Summer Time 18 July

12:35 BST 18 July

Henry Zeffman
Chief political correspondent, reporting from Blenheim Palace

It’s six weeks to the day since Rishi Sunak left a D-Day commemoration in Normandy early.

Sir Keir Starmer, then the leader of the opposition, stayed behind. His team were so pleased with the photo they secured of him shaking hands with the Ukrainian president, Volodymr Zelensky, that they used it in Labour’s election manifesto.

Image source, Labour Party

Now, just two weeks on from polling day, the new prime minister is beside President Zelensky as a fellow world leader, helping to marshal European support for Ukraine.

It was striking that in their exchanges after the King’s Speech yesterday, Sunak praised Starmer for maintaining the same position on support for Ukraine.

But the cloud hanging over this summit is developments in the US, and whether a potential second Trump presidency threatens the western coalition which supports Ukraine.

Image source, Shutterstock

Image source, David Goddard/Getty Images

While Europe's leaders are meeting behind closed doors, let's take a closer look at the historic setting for this summit.

Blenheim Palace, a Unesco world heritage site, was built between 1705 and 1722.

The Baroque-style palace is the birthplace of former UK Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill, and sits in more than 2000 acres of land.

It takes its name from the 1704 Battle of Blenheim, and was built as a gift from Queen Anne to John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, after his victory over French and Bavarian troops.

Image source, Hulton Archive, Getty Images

On 30 November 1874, Sir Winston Churchill was born there, returning to the palace during school holidays from boarding school.

He proposed to his wife, Clementine, in 1908 at the Temple of Diana in Blenheim's grounds. The couple spent the first three nights of their honeymoon at the palace and in later years continued to visit with their children.

The palace has remained in the Churchill family and is occupied today by Charles James Spencer-Churchill, the 12th Duke of Marlborough, and his family.

The impressive building has also served as a backdrop for the big screen, with Harry Potter, James Bond and Mission Impossible films being shot there.

Image source, EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

Jenny Hill
Political correspondent

Image source, EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

A strong intervention from Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen - she has called for the urgent delivery of more weapons and ammunition to Ukraine, to enable it to push Russia back out of its territory.

She tells the EPC that Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine is just one step on the way to realising its imperial dreams and ambitions.

Referring to its 2014 annexation of Crimea, she warns against negotiations with Vladimir Putin, saying "Russia was not to be trusted then and Russia is not to be trusted now". She also warns against encouraging future aggressors to make land grabs.

Quoting Churchill, Frederiksen adds: "It’s not enough we do our best. Sometimes we have to do what’s required."

Image source, LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP via Getty Images

Leaders at the European Political Community summit have gathered outside Blenheim Palace for the family photo.

Next, they will head off into working groups to continue their discussions.

After short speeches from Swiss leader Viola Amherd and then Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Keir Starmer says he "looks forward to building on these powerful words later".

The UK prime minister then tells leaders they are moving to the "family photo" stage of the day and reminds them there is a letter explaining to everyone where to stand.

It will take a short while for everyone to brush their hair and shine their shoes - and we'll bring you that family photo when it arrives.

For now, we'll continue to analyse what we've just heard.

Zelensky urges all the countries to support peace efforts and to show leadership.

He says it’s important for countries around the world to be brave and to ignore threats and blackmail attempts: "Joint efforts are needed for the sake of peace.

"When the aggressor loses, the world wins."

He finishes by thanking everyone "for every life saved by your support".

President Volodymyr Zelensky thanks those who support Ukraine in its path to membership of the European Union.

"This proves that even in the most difficult of circumstances, the EU can keep its promises," he says.

He also thanks those supporting Ukraine's attempt to become a member of Nato, and those who helped organise the first Ukraine Peace Summit.

"It was a success for everyone who wants a just end to this war," he adds.

Image source, EPA

The more effective our air defences are, Zelensky continues, the more helpless Putin will be and the more likely it will be that Russia will seek peace.

More launch sites for Russia's missiles targeting Ukrainian civilians will be destroyed, and more of its capability to continue the war, he argues.

The Ukrainian president urges Europe's leaders to show the collective will to take these steps to help stop Russia's aggression.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky tells the summit that the "reality on the battlefield is more convincing than anything", and that "we have stopped Russian advances on Kharkiv".

He goes on to say that Putin has sacrificed "tens of thousands of his citizens but has achieved nothing significant".

Zelensky praises the "bravery of our warriors and the bravery of our partners", who have lifted limitations on the "use of weapons" along Ukraine's border.

Zelensky tells leaders they have "maintained unity in Europe" as he declares this means Vladimir Putin "has failed in his primary target".

The Ukrainian leader adds: "He has failed to create division in Europe."

Zelensky says they will ensure a "long-lasting peace in Europe".

He continues: "This remains an advantage so long as we are united."

We are now hearing from President Volodymyr Zelensky who insists Russian missiles, drones and planes must be "destroyed".

He says: "There must be a collective will to shoot them down just like the Iranian missiles and drones."

"Your bravery can be decisive," he tells leaders in the room.

"People should feel Europe is becoming closer," Zelensky adds.

Starmer goes on to say that his government is here to look for "solutions that will actually deliver results" and approach issues with "humanity and a profound respect for international law".

He says this is why the Rwanda scheme was scrapped, and why "we will never withdraw" from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). He says Churchill was among the chief architects of the convention.

The UK prime minister says that under his leadership, 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".

Sir Keir Starmer says this summit is a chance to say together "no more", as he reflects on the five recent deaths of migrants in the channel - what he calls a "chilling reminder of the human cost of this vile trade."

"As we speak here," he says, "a criminal empire is at work in every country represented here today - profiting off human misery and desperation, prepared to send innocent people to their deaths.

"This summit is an opportunity to set a new path on illegal migration."

Starmer now talks about the importance of the UK and EU working together.

"For peace and security, for prosperity and all our people - we have shown in the G7, where we use Russia's assets to ensure they pay for the damage caused and to reduce our collective dependence on Russian gas."

He goes on to say that "he must see the job through and use this moment to accelerate towards clean energy... and tackle ships that are helping Russia evade sanctions".

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer continues to say that "the threat from Russia reaches right across Europe".

In his opening speech at the European Political Community summit, he says "many have seen attacks on our own democracy" including "military planes entering our airspace and ships patrolling our coast".

He says it is time for all of Europe to do more and "stand together" to "guard Europe's frontiers".

In Sir Keir Starmer's opening speech at Blenheim Palace, he says: "The task is urgent, our security is on the line."

He salutes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for his efforts to uphold European values, and says "we will stand with you for as long as it takes".

After all of the arrivals outside Blenheim Palace, attention now turns to inside the building where leaders have gathered and taken their seats for the opening plenary, with Keir Starmer addressing the summit now.

Stay with us and we'll bring you the latest - you can follow the proceedings by pressing Watch live at the top of the page.

Will today be a reset for UK-EU relations?published at 10:42 British Summer Time 18 July

10:42 BST 18 July

James Landale
Diplomatic correspondent, reporting from Blenheim Palace

“Reset” is the word of the day at the EPC. Sir Keir Starmer says he wants a reset in UK-EU relations.

Other European leaders arriving on the red carpet were happy to echo both the word and the sentiment. But what does it mean? Well, that’s less clear.

Finland’s president, Alexander Stubb, gushed: “Britain is back in Europe!”

Josep Borrell, the EU foreign affairs chief, said: “We are going to reset UK-EU relations!”

But Ireland’s PM, Simon Harris, said it was “first for the UK to decide what it wants”.

Belgium’s PM, Alexander de Croo, warned against UK “cherry picking” new arrangements with the EU.

Charles Michel, European Council President, said there could be no new deals because the British people had voted for Brexit.

And specifically on Starmer’s plans to tackle migration, Slovenia’s PM, Robert Golob, said there should be “no direct deal” with the EU but instead more cooperation between police forces.

Spain’s premier Pedro Sanchez, actually praised migration, saying it was driving growth in his economy.

Viktor Orban, Hungary’s leader, said it was “too early to make an evaluation” about Sir Keir Starmer.