Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is expected to discuss European security and the likely impact of a second Trump presidency as he holds talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.
Macron and Sir Keir marked Armistice Day at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier under the Arc de Triomphe on Monday, and plan to talk about Russia’s invasion and the humanitarian situation in Gaza at a later meeting, Downing Street said.
Their meeting comes as questions are being asked about US President-elect Donald Trump’s support for Ukraine after he said he could end the war with Russia “in one day”.
Trade will also be on the agenda, with Trump saying he will impose a blanket 20% tariff on imports into the US.
Some economists have warned about the global impact of such tariffs, with on prediction of a potential £22bn hit to UK exports.
Macron personally invited the prime minister, making Sir Keir the first British leader at the Champs-Élysées ceremony since Churchill in 1944.
Sir Keir also met French Prime Minister Michel Barnier before observing a minute’s silence to mark the 106th anniversary of Armistice Day.
As part of the commemorations, Sir Keir and Macron laid a wreath at the Winston Churchill statue in Paris and travelled in an open roof car to review troops around the Arc de Triomphe.
Among the topics likely to be discussed at their meeting later are Ukraine, the Middle East, migration and the government’s push for a “reset” of relations with the EU.
On Ukraine, the leaders are expected to talk about how to ensure its forces are in the best possible position ahead of the winter. One possible topic of discussion is whether Ukraine could use long-range Storm Shadow missiles deep into Russian territory.
But after months of discussion on this issue the key decision-maker as far as London and Paris are concerned remains President Biden, so no breakthrough is expected today.
Questions have been raised following Trump’s US presidential election victory about what his second term could mean for US support for Ukraine and Nato.
Over the weekend, the Washington Post reported Trump has already spoken to Vladimir Putin – urging the Russian leader not to further escalate the war.
The Kremlin denied a phone call took place, claiming the Washington Post’s article “does not correspond at all to reality”.
UK Defence Secretary John Healey said if the reports of the call were correct “then President Trump is exactly right to warn Putin against escalation in Ukraine”.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, he said he expected the United States to “remain steadfast” in its support of Ukraine due to the strength of “bipartisan support” in the country.
“We have stepped up our support of Ukraine, we’re speeded up the delivery of aid, and we’re spending more now on Ukraine and supporting Ukraine than we ever have done before,” he added.
The UK and France have said backing Ukraine against Russia is essential when it comes to to protecting the European continent as a whole.
Trump has previously told Nato members to increase defence spending, saying he would let aggressors such as Russia do “whatever the hell it wants” to those that do not.
During his election campaign, Donald Trump declined to specify how he would end the war between Russia and Ukraine in a day – but it could involve imposing a deal on both sides.
Bryan Lanza, who worked on Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, told the BBC that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had to have a “realistic vision for peace”, which would not involve ending the Russian annexation of Crimea.
However, a spokesperson for Donald Trump distanced him from the remarks, saying Mr Bryan “does not speak for him”.
The Armistice Day meeting between Starmer and Macron comes as fighting between Ukraine and Russia intensifies.
Exchanges at the weekend saw the largest drone attacks by both sides against each other since the start of the war, and Russia’s defence ministry said it intercepted 84 Ukrainian drones over six regions, including some approaching Moscow.
On Sunday, Treasury Minister Darren Jones told BBC One’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme that the government wanted to increase defence spending from 2.3% to 2.5% of the national income.
However, he did not say when the target would be reached or whether it would be met before the next election, which could be held in 2029, at the latest.
On Sunday, Sir Keir joined other political leaders and members of the Royal Family, including the Prince and Princess of Wales, for the annual National Service of Remembrance ceremony at the Cenotaph in London.
King Charles led the nation in two minutes of silence in remembrance of those who lost their lives serving in the two world wars or other conflicts.
As on Remembrance Sunday, two minutes of silence will be held on Armistice Day at 11:00 GMT.
It marks the moment World War One ended, at 11:00 on the 11th day of the 11th month, in 1918.
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