Sir Keir Starmer and Volodymyr Zelensky have said there is "strong resolve" for peace in Ukraine ahead of highly anticipated talks between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.

The two leaders expressed cautious optimism about the prospect of a truce "as long as Putin takes action to prove he is serious" about ending the war, as they met on Wednesday, a Downing Street statement said.

In a separate statement, Mr Zelensky said there had been discussions about the security guarantees required to make any deal "truly durable if the United States succeeds in pressing Russia to stop the killing".

The Prime Minister hosted the Ukrainian president for a private breakfast in No 10 on Thursday as Europe braces for the face-to-face meeting between the US president and his Russian counterpart in Alaska on Friday.

European leaders are hopeful about the potential for a ceasefire after a joint call with Mr Trump on Wednesday, during which he reportedly told them his goal for the summit was to secure a ceasefire.