Starmer and Macron discuss Ukraine amid Armistice Day commemorations in Paris
Sir Keir Starmer is the first UK prime minister to join France's Armistice Day commemorations since Winston Churchill 80 years ago, as ITV News Political Reporter Jasmine Cameron-Chileshe reports
Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron held a historic meeting in Paris ahead of Armistice Day celebrations in a show of European solidarity after the election of Donald Trump raised concerns about the future of Nato.
On the invitation of the French president, the prime minister attended this year's Armistice commemoration, becoming the first UK leader to do so since Winston Churchill joined General de Gaulle in 1944.
The leaders laid a wreath together and fell silent under the iconic Arc de Triomphe to pay tribute to their fallen soldiers in World War One on the 106th anniversary of the Armistice.
Ahead of the commemorations, Starmer discussed foreign policy issues with the French president, including the war in Ukraine and the humanitarian situation in Gaza, while the implications of a Trump presidency are thought to also have been at the top of their agenda.
“The leaders started by discussing the situation in Ukraine, including how best to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position going into the winter," the prime minister's spokesperson said.
He added that both leaders "underscored their deep concern at the situation in Gaza and Lebanon" and "reiterated the need for stability in the West Bank".
The PM also used the opportunity to set out his plans to "smash the gangs" and bring down small boat Channel crossings, said the spokesman, adding that "the leaders strongly agreed on the importance of bearing down on illegal migration at every stage of a migrant's journey."
Throughout the morning Starmer hosted veterans, defence charities and British military personnel at the ambassador’s residence, and is also expected to meet the new French prime minister Michel Barnier.
The meetings come less than a week after it was confirmed that Donald Trump will be returning to the White House in January having been re-elected US president.
There are concerns over what a second Trump term could mean for US support for Kyiv and Nato after the president-elect said during his campaign that he could end the war with Russia "in one day", but did not explain how he would do so.
Facing broadcasters on Monday morning, Defence Secretary John Healey said he expected the new administration to continue backing Ukraine until it secures a victory over Russia.
But he said any potential peace talks were for Ukraine alone to call after a senior Trump adviser suggested Washington would be focused on resolving the conflict rather than helping the country regain territory.
'Those sort of judgements are in the end for Ukraine. Ukraine are the ones that are fighting, we're not'
Asked on ITV's Good Morning Britain if the UK would welcome ending the war in a day, but not at the cost of allowing Russia to keep the land it has taken, he replied: "Those sort of judgements are in the end for Ukraine. Ukraine are the ones that are fighting, we're not.
"They get to make the call about when to start to talk alongside the fighting as well. Our job is, as it's been from the start, to stand with Ukraine, step up the support as we have done as a new government to Ukraine - we've speeded up the delivery of the aid that's been promised."
Trump has criticised Washington’s provision of tens of billions of dollars worth of aid to Ukraine since it was invaded by Russia, as well as expressing scepticism towards Nato and accusing European countries of free-riding on America.
Asked if the world is a safer or more dangerous place with president-elect Trump, he suggested it was "Putin's war in Europe, conflict in the Middle East, and rising global tensions elsewhere" that were to blame.
He also defended the government’s plans to set out a “path” in the spring to reaching a defence spending target of 2.5% of GDP.
Healey insisted the government must wait for the defence review to be completed in order to determine how his department will "spend more but spend better" and make sure the Armed Forces are in the future "one step ahead of adversaries like Putin".
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Starmer's visit to France comes as he announced more than £10 million to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day and VJ Day.
The prime minister has pledged a “moment of national reflection” in 2025, with events on May 8 to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the allied victory in Europe, and also on August 15 to mark the end of the Second World War.
The royal family were at the forefront of tributes on Remembrance Sunday, with the King leading the country in a two-minute silence on Remembrance Sunday, commemorating the nation's war dead, as the Princess of Wales watched on.
Floral tributes were then laid by members of the royal family, the prime minister, other political leaders, and foreign diplomats.
The Princess of Wales watched from a government building balcony overlooking the Cenotaph, making a rare public appearance this weekend to attend events marking Armistice Day.
The ceremony was held after a two-minute silence was observed in the heart of Whitehall and at war memorials in villages, towns and cities across the country.
Queen Camilla, 77, watched the Remembrance Sunday service from home while she recovered from a chest infection.
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