Key events
Show key events only
Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature
Aaaaand here we go: Zelenskyy arrives, gets a big hug from Starmer, and they pose for photos with pretty sombre look on their faces.
British prime minister Keir Starmer greets Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy at 10 Downing Street, as E3 partners France, Germany and Britain meet in London, Britain. Photograph: Hannah McKay/Reuters
The Ukrainian president then talks to Starmer about Larry for a moment pointing at the cat, and they walk in.
Larry the cat walks near British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at 10 Downing Street, as E3 partners France, Germany and Britain meet in London, Britain. Photograph: Hannah McKay/ReutersShare
Updated at 08.15 EST
Jakub Krupa
Let Larry in, it’s cold!
Larry the Cat sits outside 10 Downing Street, on the day of a Coalition of the Willing meeting, in London, Britain. Photograph: Toby Melville/ReutersShare
Updated at 08.07 EST
Jakub Krupa
There is a part of me wondering if we could see the three leaders come out to welcome Zelenskyy together outside the famous No10 doors in a show of unity and solidarity with Ukraine.
Or not. It’s, admittedly, a pure speculation.
Still better than the current chat outside No10 on whether Zelenskyy has stopped somewhere for Christmas shopping, though.
So we are now waiting for Ukraine’s Zelenskyy, who is expected shortly.
Larry the Cat also wants to be involved in today’s talks, it seems, but much to his annoyance he appears to left out the front doors at the moment.
Larry the cat moves away as British prime minister Keir Starmer greets French president Emmanuel Macron at 10 Downing Street, as E3 partners France, Germany and Britain meet in London, Britain. Photograph: Hannah McKay/ReutersShare
Macron arrives next, with a big wave and thumbs up to the reporters gathered outside. But, apart from a polite “thank you,” he also doesn’t engage with the many questions shouted at him.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer greets French President Emmanuel Macron at 10 Downing Street, as E3 partners France, Germany and Britain meet in London, Britain. Photograph: Isabel Infantes/Reuters
Also, a note to fellow journalists camped outside No10: no, I really don’t think his officials carry a nuclear bomb in a Gucci bag. Also, Gucci is Italian!
Updated at 07.56 EST
Jakub Krupa
But, to be fair to the German punctuality joke guy, Merz actually did arrive on time.
And just like that Merz arrives at 10 Downing Street, with questions shouted at him and Starmer on whether the US plan is too soft on Russia, if the US is sidelining Europe, and if UK troops will be deployed to Ukraine.
They don’t engage, but smile, wave, and go inside.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer greets German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at 10 Downing Street, as E3 partners France, Germany and Britain meet in London. Photograph: Isabel Infantes/ReutersShare
For a fellow journalist wondering on stream if Merz “is the same guy who was here last week”: no, that was the German president, Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Here they are for reference:
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, right, presents Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz with his certificate of appointment at Bellevue Palace in Berlin, following his election by the German Bundestag. Photograph: Bernd von Jutrczenka/APShareJakub Krupa
If you’re listening to our live stream from Downing Street now, you can learn a thing or two about how this sort of occasions play out for journalists that cover them.
We have just been given a five minute warning for the arrival of German chancellor Friedrich Merz, which someone adding a joke playing on the German stereotype of punctuality, saying: “oh, Germany? They will be on time then.”
(Oh, bless him. Don’t tell him about the state of things at Deutsche Bahn.)
Updated at 07.51 EST
US may end support for Ukraine war effort, says Donald Trump Jr
Patrick Wintour
Sitting down for their talks this afternoon, European leaders will be painfully aware of all sorts of comments coming from the US side over the weekend, including from the president Donald Trump’s oldest son.
White House threat to pull support for Ukraine ‘common sense’, says Donald Trump Jr – video
Donald Trump Jr warned that his father may walk away from the Ukrainian war in a lengthy tirade against the purpose of continued fighting in Ukraine, as he also claimed Ukraine’s “corrupt” rich had fled their country leaving “what they believed to be the peasant class” to fight the war.
Trump Jr has no formal role inside his father’s administration, but is a key figure in the Maga movement. His intervention reflects the antipathy among some inside the Trump team towards the Ukrainian government, and comes as Trump’s negotiating team is putting pressure on Kyiv to give up territory.