Image source, Reuters

We can now bring you some more of Starmer's comments from the summit table.

"In my conversations in recent days, we agreed a group of us will work with Ukraine on a plan to stop the fighting, and then discuss that with the US and take it forward together," the prime minister outlines.

"Even while Russia talks about peace, they are continuing their relentless aggression.

"That is the agenda and we need to agree what steps come out of this meeting to deliver peace through strength for the benefit of all."

Starmer also referenced a conversation he had with "Baltic allies" earlier today remotely.

Liza Fokht
BBC Russian service

The summit in Britain is under intense scrutiny from Moscow.

The past week has played out exactly as the Kremlin hoped - scenes of President Trump berating Ukraine’s Zelensky in the White House are a perfect spectacle for Vladimir Putin.

But European leaders' efforts to rise to the occasion, overcome internal divisions, and support Ukraine in a moment of diplomatic crisis are also in the Kremlin’s sights, as Moscow seeks to exploit fractures among Western allies.

Today, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov signalled a striking rhetorical shift. He claimed that for 500 years, “all the world’s tragedies have either originated in Europe or happened because of European policies,” insisting that Americans have played no role in “instigating” conflicts.

This contradicts years of Kremlin messaging, which blamed the US for global instability and dismissed Europe as a mere “vassal” of Washington.

Moscow understands that Europe is in a delicate position - balancing an attempt to rebuild ties with Trump, resolve internal crises, and support Ukraine all at once.

But if Europe unites and persuades Trump that it has a role in shaping Ukraine’s future, Russia’s path to ending the war quickly on its own terms will become far more complicated.

Image source, Reuters

We're now seeing some footage of the leaders around the summit table, with Sir Keir Starmer speaking to those gathered.

The UK prime minister calls it a "once in a generation moment for the security of Europe", and adds that a good peace outcome for Ukraine would also be vital for the security of nations across the continent.

Starmer also references people stood outside Downing Street who cheered in support of Ukraine as Zelensky arrived to No10 - he says this reflected the "strength of feeling" for the country.

The European leaders summit, hosted by Sir Keir Starmer, is now beginning at Lancaster House in central London. So, what happens next?

As is often the case with these events, timings aren't set in stone, but it's thought that discussions at the summit will take place over the next couple of hours.

We don't know the exact details of what will come up in talks, but possible topics include Europe's role in bringing an end to the war in Ukraine, as well as the continent's relationship with the US.

Once talks are concluded, it's expected that Starmer will hold a news conference.

And away from the summit, we know that President Zelensky is due to meet King Charles later this afternoon.

Nick Beake
Europe Correspondent

We often hear Europe talked about as if it were one single country: “How will Europe react to the Trump-Zelensky fallout?"

But this doesn’t reflect the current cast of European leaders with fluctuating influence and conflicting domestic pressures.

France’s Emmanuel Macron sees himself as a bridge between the US and Europe, in the same way Sir Keir Starmer does. Severely weakened at home, the global stage is where Macron hopes to make his mark in the remaining two years of his presidency.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's close relations to key figures in the Trump administration, namely Elon Musk is also a crucial link - although polls suggest levels of support for Ukraine among Italians is lower than within the British and French public.

Image source, EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

The man set to become the next German leader, Friedrich Merz has vowed he’ll play a more prominent role than current Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who’s at the summit today.

Merz is ready to talk to the UK and France about whether they’d share their nuclear defence capabilities with Germany, as the US reshapes European security.

This coming week, the 27 EU countries will hold an emergency summit in Brussels. There will be leaders at that meeting, who were not invited to London today, and are much warmer towards Moscow. Most notably, Hungary’s Viktor Orban.

Those leaders could undermine this concerted effort to try to salvage the transatlantic alliance that has supported Ukraine for the last three years.

Shortly before Zelensky's arrival, European Council President Antonio Costa was welcomed into the building.

Minutes earlier, Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni arrived at Lancaster House, after her meeting with Sir Keir Starmer in Downing Street earlier today.

She told Sir Keir at that meeting that the "West must not divide" - something she described as "very, very important".

Just after Zelensky's arrival, Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez made his way into the summit.

All of the leaders due to attend the summit have now arrived.

Image source, Getty Images

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is now at Lancaster House, where he is greeted by Prime Minister Keir Starmer ahead of a summit with other European leaders.

Stick with us as we bring you all the key lines.

Image source, Reuters

The procession of arrivals continues, this time with Netherlands Prime Minister Dick Schoof.

Then, Finland's president Alexander Stubb made his entrance - in our previous post, we heard more from him in an interview with BBC's Diplomatic correspondent James Landale.

They are followed by Romania's Ilie Bolojan.

James Landale
Diplomatic correspondent

The President of Finland, Alexander Stubb, has backed Sir Keir Starmer’s efforts to draw up a new European ceasefire plan for Ukraine.

He told the BBC the shouting match in the Oval Office between President Trump and President Zelensky was a “failure of diplomacy” with Vladimir Putin “the only winner”.

He insisted the transatlantic alliance was “still alive and kicking” but called for calm: “Take a deep breath. Take an ice bath, go to the sauna, reflect. We'll be back.”

But he refused to say whether Mr Zelensky should eat humble pie to repair relations with the White House: “As much as I like British pies. I'm not going to give any advice to Zelensky about Humble Pie. He can decide himself.”

Mr Stubb praised the Prime Minister’s proposals:

“This is the kind of leadership we need in Europe right now? I think it's an excellent idea. And I do think that he said France, the UK, Ukraine, and perhaps one or two other countries. Let's see what it looks like, and who can join in.

“We need a plan, and that's why we're here."

Image source, Reuters

Next to arrive is Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who shakes hands with Starmer.

Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen arrives a short time afterwards.

A few minutes later, outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz arrives.

Image source, Reuters

We've just seen European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen and Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala arriving at Lancaster House.

Von der Leyen is greeted with a kiss, as Fiala is given a handshake by Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Stay with us for the next arrivals.

Image source, Reuters

Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Støre are the next to arrive in quick succession at Lancaster House.

Sir Keir Starmer is again there to greet each of them individually at the entrance.

Image source, Reuters

The BBC's diplomatic correspondent James Landale is at Lancaster House, where European leaders are arriving ahead of this afternoon's summit.

Landale says European leaders will be hoping today to "resolve transatlantic relations and potentially unlock a peace plan for Ukraine".

He says UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has made it clear that he wants Europe to take greater ownership of this process, and that today is about Europeans, saying "we need to get a dog in this fight".

Landale says Starmer will look for greater defence spending and a commitment from countries to put military force on the ground in Ukraine in the future.

European leaders will be looking to present a plan to the US to be able to ask them to change their mind on security guarantees, Landale says.

"If you don’t have American air cover, logistical support, and intelligence cover, any kind of reassurance force may not have the punch it needs to deter future Russian aggression."

Image source, Reuters

Back over to Lancaster House, we're now seeing that Nato General Secretary Mark Rutte and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk have just arrived.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer greets them individually at the door before heading inside.

We're expecting more leaders to join soon.

Image source, Reuters

Moving away from Lancaster House for a moment, let's look back at what Labour spin doctor, Alastair Campbell, has just told the BBC.

On Friday's meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky, he says it was potentially an "epoch-making" moment in history.

"It was utterly disgusting," he says, adding that Trump has made a "massive mistake" in reaching out to and siding with Russia's Vladimir Putin, and projecting him as someone who can be trusted.

Reflecting on Vice-President JD Vance's comments, Campbell says he stepped in and "literally started to pour petrol on the flames".

Campbell goes on to highlight the "incredible" importance of today's meeting between European leaders.

He describes UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer as someone who is "serious and can play the brokering role", adding that he is right not to ramp of the rhetoric.

"We are lucky to have Keir Starmer there right now," he says.

Image source, Reuters

The European leaders summit is set to kick off fairly soon, and we've just seen images showing French President Emmanuel Macron arriving at Lancaster House.

He was embraced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer before they both went inside.

We're expecting the other leaders to arrive imminently. Stick with us.

Chris Mason
Political editor, reporting from the summit

Hello from the summit, where more world leaders are expected to start arriving shortly.

I've already seen the prime minister arrive in the last few minutes. I asked if he hoped things could get back on track. No answer from Keir Starmer - he instead greeted officials and headed straight in.

Europe will be keen to get Zelensky and Trump at the table againpublished at 12:46 Greenwich Mean Time 2 March

12:46 GMT 2 March

James Landale
Diplomatic correspondent

Image source, Reuters

Today’s summit was planned before the infamous shouting match in the Oval Office. But the breakdown in relations between Ukraine and the United States will dominate.

The leaders are expected to make a very public show of support for President Zelensky.

The prime minister began that yesterday by giving him a warm hug in Downing Street and a £2.26bn loan to help him to buy more arms.

Zelensky will also meet the King later this afternoon.

Starmer will not want the summit to be seen as a rebuke to President Trump.

He says he wants it to focus on beefing up European defence spending and finding security guarantees for Ukraine. But discussions will inevitably look at ways – if possible – of getting Ukraine and the US talking again.

The prime minister and President Macron both spoke to Trump last night.

With the transatlantic alliance and the future of Ukraine in the balance, much is at stake.

Image source, EPA

If you're just joining us, here's a catch-up on what's been going on this morning as we gear up for this afternoon's summit of European leaders in London:

• Leaders are beginning to arrive in London ahead of a key summit to discuss support for Ukraine - most recently, we've seen Italian prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, being greeted by UK PM Keir Starmer
• Upon arrival, Meloni said that Italy and the UK share a "similar mindset" on Ukraine. Other European leaders have also reiterated their support and desire for a lasting peace

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will be at the summit, and he is also due to meet King Charles III this afternoon, too
• Earlier, Starmer said while appearing on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg that the UK and France are going to work with Ukraine "on a plan to stop the fighting" with Russia and will then "discuss that plan" with the US - more key takeaways from that interview are here
• In Ukraine, at least two people were killed in overnight strikes by Russia, according to reports from regional authorities

As a reminder, today's events in London come in the wake of the fiery exchange between Zelensky and Trump in the Oval Office on Friday.

We'll keep bringing you the latest through the afternoon as leaders continue to arrive in Downing Street, stick with us.

More now from the televised remarks between Starmer and Meloni.

The Italian prime minister tells Starmer she thinks it's "very, very important" to avoid running the risk of a split in the West.

"And that's why I think the UK and Italy can play a key role in bridge-building," she adds.

She also tells Starmer that she wants to see a "lasting peace" in Ukraine.