Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey is next. He starts by saying US President Donald Trump "is not a reliable ally with respect to Russia".

"The single most important thing is lasting peace in Europe and Ukraine and nothing is going to deter me from that or lose my focus on that," the prime minister responds.

He says he doesn't agree with Davey on the reliability of the US.

"The US and the UK has the closest of relationships. Our defence, our security, our intelligence is completely intertwined," he continues.

"It would be a huge mistake at a time like this to suggest that any weakening of that link is the way forward for security, defence in Europe."

Image source, BBC Parliament

Now for questions from other MPs.

The chair of the foreign affairs select committee, Emily Thornberry, asks about the prime minister's decision to cut foreign aid to fund an increase in defence spending.

Starmer says he will go through foreign aid funding "line-by-line" and look at the priorities - including for Sudan, Ukraine and Gaza.

He adds that he wants to look at raising funds from other sources - including the private sector - to help pay for it.

Keir Starmer thanks Kemi Badenoch for her support.

He says that any proposal on the deployment of British peacekeeping troops to Ukraine if and when the war ends would be put to the MPs first.

The PM repeats that he feels the UK must lead with a coalition of the willing, but concedes that not every country takes the same view.

Other countries may take their own views on how to support Ukraine, Starmer says.

On the question of how frozen Russian assets might be used, Stamer says this is a "very complicated issue", but says work is ongoing.

Sanctions also must not be lifted on Russia simply because there is a cessation in the fighting, Starmer adds, and notes that is it crucial that Europe avoids the mistakes of the past.

It's now the turn of Tory leader Kemi Badenoch to respond for the opposition.

She says she supports Starmer's actions this weekend in organising the European leaders' summit, the increase to the UK's defence spending, and his plan for a "coalition of the willing".

She asks Starmer what allies are willing to offer towards the coalition, if he has plans to go further, and if there is an update on government sanctions on Russia-linked individuals, and if they will be lifted in the event of a ceasefire.

She also asks what can be done to heal the rift with Washington.

Badenoch also asks what steps the UK and its allies are taking to ensure Ukraine is at the negotiating table during possible peace talks with Russia.

Speaking about his visit last week to see Donald Trump in the White House, Starmer says: "I welcome the positive discussions we had on European security, including his [Trump's] clear support for Article 5 of Nato.

"I welcome the understanding from our dialogue that our two nations will work together on security arrangements for a lasting peace in Ukraine.

"I also welcome the president's continued commitment to that peace, which nobody in this House should doubt for a second is sincere."

Image source, Reuters

Starmer says he feels "strongly" that Ukraine's future is "vital" for the UK's national security.

He goes on to say Russia is a "menace" in Britain's waters and skies, has carried out cyber attacks on the NHS, and conducted "assassination attacks in our streets".

"In this house, we stand by Ukraine because it's the right thing to do," he says, adding that it's in the country's interest to "do so".

"A strong peace, a just peace, a lasting peace - that has now to be our goal," the prime minister says. He adds that the UK will "lead from the front" in trying to secure a peace deal.

We must "proceed with strength", Starmer says.

On Sunday, he adds, it was agreed that those European and other allied nations willing to play a role will intensify their planning now.

Britain, he tells MPs, will play a leading role.

"If necessary" this could involve "boots on the ground and planes in the air", he says.

It's right Europe does the "heavy lifting", he says, but for this work to succeed it needs "strong US backing".

Keir Starmer outlines four principles agreed upon at the weekend's European summit, the details of which you can find in our main news story.

This includes his vision for a "coalition of the willing", which he says would guarantee the peace of Ukraine.

Image source, BBC Parliament

Starmer describes the summit with European leaders that took place in Lonon on Sunday as "productive".

He says the group agreed on a clear strategy, which will see the UK, France and its allies working closely with Ukraine on a plan to stop the fighting.

He says this strategy will be discussed with the US.

Yesterday, supporters lined the route President Zelensky took to No 10 while on a visit to the UK on Sunday.

Starmer tells the Commons now he "saw for myself" that Zelensky was "taken aback" by the crowds on Whitehall "cheering for Ukraine".

Starmer describes it as a "reminder" that "this government, this House, this nation" stands in "unwavering support" behind the Ukrainian president and his country.

The angry exchange between Ukraine's Zelensky and Donald Trump on Friday was something "nobody in this House wants to see", the prime minister says.

But we must be "crystal clear" that the UK "must strengthen" our relationship with the US, he adds.

The US "are and always will be indispensable", he says.

The idea of a choice between the US and Europe is "totally unserious" as America is "vital in securing the peace we all want to see", Starmer says.

Image source, BBC Parliament

Starmer adds that the tough choices made last week "are not done".

He says the boost to UK defence spending - to 2.5% of national income by 2027 - will enable new jobs in every part of the country.

PM tries to link international and domestic agendaspublished at 15:39 Greenwich Mean Time 3 March

15:39 GMT 3 March

Chris Mason
Political editor

The prime minister is attempting to tie together his response to the current international situation with his domestic political objectives.

He is making an argument that national security and economic security are indivisible.

That boosting defence spending and supporting Ukraine helps "working people" as he put it, at home.

Image source, BBC Parliament

Continuing, Starmer says we see before us the "test of our times" and stand at a crossroads in our history.

He says he will outline his efforts to secure a "just and lasting peace" in Ukraine.

Starmer says that last week he announced the biggest increase in defence spending since the Cold War, and adds that we once again live in an era where "peace in Europe depends on strength and deterrence".

Keir Starmer begins his statement on the war in Ukraine.

He talks through some of the latest support his government has announced for Kyiv, and tells MPs in the Commons that "economic security is national security".

We'll bring you more shortly.

Image source, UK Parliament

Keir Starmer is on his feet and takes his place at the dispatch box.

He's due to give a statement on Ukraine before taking questions from MPs.

We'll bring you the key lines here - hit watch live above to follow along.

Image source, PA Media

Now for a crack at this "coalition of the willing" idea - a four-point plan to work with Ukraine to end the war and defend the country from Russia.

Announced at a summit of European leaders in London this weekend, Keir Starmer did not state which countries had agreed to join, but said that those who had would intensify planning with real urgency.

"We have to learn from the mistakes of the past, we cannot accept a weak deal which Russia can breach with ease, instead any deal must be backed by strength," he said.

He added that the UK would back its commitment with "boots on the ground, and planes in the air".

Leaders agreed yesterday that the plan would need US backing - they are expected to present it to US President Donald Trump, although its unclear when this will be.

• Read our news story for a more in depth look

Emily Atkinson
Live editor

Image source, PA Media

Good afternoon. It's just turned 15:20 GMT here in our central London newsroom.

Down the road in Westminster, Keir Starmer's warming up for an extended Q&A with MPs on his four-point plan for securing peace in Ukraine and defending it from further Russian aggression.

The PM should be on his feet at around 15:30. He'll deliver an opening statement, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch will respond for the opposition, before the floor is opened to questions.

There's a lot for MPs to cover...

Starmer's vision for a "coalition of the willing" - announced at a leaders' summit this weekend - will likely make up the bulk. We'll drill the (still scant) details of who will contribute - and what - in our next post.

Expect a good deal on the tightrope diplomacy of last week, too.

Undoubtedly, *that* Zelensky-Trump spat in the Oval Office will get a mention, and the chummy meeting Starmer himself shared with the US president the day before.

We'll bring you rolling updates on the key lines when it starts - follow along by hitting watch live above.

Harry Farley
Political correspondent

Downing Street has said there is “now intense work ongoing” towards a peace deal in Ukraine.

It comes after Sir Keir Starmer hosted a summit of European and other Nato leaders in London on Sunday.

“We want to see progress as quickly as possible,” the prime minister’s official spokesperson tells reporters.

Asked about proposals from France’s President Macron for a one-month partial truce in Ukraine, No 10 says it is one of “various options on the table”.

The spokesperson adds that the prime minister is clear any deal “must be lasting, it must be durable, [and] it must ensure that Ukraine has got significant defensive capabilities”.

Defence Secretary John Healey will travel to Washington this week to discuss the details of a peace deal with his US counterpart Pete Hegseth, they say.

Image source, Getty Images

We've just heard from Estonian President Alar Karis, who says he hopes discussions between European leaders will continue, and that Europe and the US will work together again.

"We keep our eyes wide open" for any opportunities, he tells BBC Radio 4's World at One programme when asked if Estonia would be willing to join what the UK prime minister described yesterday as the "coalition of the willing".

"We welcome these discussions lead by the UK and France on security guarantees for Ukraine," he says, adding that Estonia wants to be part of them.

Karis highlights the importance of getting the US involved in plans moving forward.

"I'm pretty much convinced Europe needs the US as well," he says, adding that relations between these sides are "extremely" important.

Estonia is a member of Nato and currently spends 3.4% of GDP on defence. It plans to raise this figure to 5%.