• Starmer hopes to reset UK-European relations at summit
• EPC will meet at Blenheim Palace with a focus on supporting Ukraine and addressing shared concerns such as migration and energy
• This summit provides Starmer a significant opportunity to meet European allies
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to attend

Starmer hopes to reset UK-European relations at summit

Sir Keir Starmer will host around 45 European leaders on Thursday at a summit aimed at resetting Britain’s relationship with Europe. The European Political Community (EPC) gathering at Blenheim Palace will focus on supporting Ukraine and addressing shared concerns such as migration and energy.

This summit provides Starmer, newly in office, a significant opportunity to meet European allies. He has pledged a more active UK role on the world stage, emphasising efforts to tackle people-smuggling and expedite asylum decisions, with 100 Home Office staff redeployed for this purpose.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to attend, just after NATO leaders promised Ukraine more air defences but no NATO membership. The summit will also allow Starmer to discuss a new security and defence pact with the EU.

Starmer and key ministers will have separate meetings with Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and French President Emmanuel Macron.