Macron visits Starmer for talks on Ukraine, Middle East

French President Emmanuel Macron arrived for talks on Ukraine and the Middle East with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Britain on Thursday.

Starmer welcomed the French head of state to his Chequers country residence northwest of London.

The British leader said they were set for a “really important discussion about a number of issues of mutual concern, including the situation in Ukraine, the Middle East and Europe.”

European powers are preparing for the arrival in office on January 20 of US President-elect Donald Trump, who has said he will end the Ukraine conflict.

Ukraine and its allies are concerned that a settlement could be imposed on terms favourable to Russia, which invaded Ukraine in 2022.

Macron said the two sides had “a lot of convergence” on pressing issues such as the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.

He said the Chequers meeting was also an opportunity to discuss bilateral relations.

Starmer said the meeting was “evidence of our ability to work well together.”

Starmer’s office said the two would also talk about artificial intelligence and illegal immigration.

Recent months have seen tens of thousands of migrants make the sometimes-deadly sea crossing from France to England.