British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said that he would host a number of world leaders for talks about Ukraine this weekend after returning from meeting US President Donald Trump at the White House.
"I am hosting a number of countries at the weekend for us to continue to discuss how we go forward together as allies in light of the situation that we face," he told reporters.
Mr Starmer also said he had spoken to French President Emanuel Macron earlier following his return from Washington, where he met Mr Trump.
It comes after he told the House of Commons that the UK's defence spending will increase to 2.5% by 2027.
Speaking on the eve of his departure to meet Mr Trump in Washington, Mr Starmer said these measures will result in the largest, sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War.
Defence spending in the UK is currently 2.3%.
Mr Starmer slashed the aid budget to fund the dramatic increase in defence spending in response to "tyrant" Vladimir Putin and uncertainty over Mr Trump's commitment to European security.
That will mean spending £13.4 billion (€16.1 billion) more every year from 2027, something which Mr Keir acknowledged required "extremely difficult and painful choices".
During a statement to MPs this afternoon, he also committed to reaching 3% of gross domestic product (GDP) by the next parliament.
But to fund it, development assistance aid will be slashed from its current level of 0.5% of gross national income to 0.3% in 2027.
When intelligence and security services spending is taken into account, the Prime Minister said that spending will be 2.6% of GDP in 2027.
The Prime Minister said: "We also face enemies that are sophisticated in cyberattacks, sabotage, even assassination, and so our intelligence and security services are an increasingly vital part of protecting both us and our allies.
"So on top of the funding of 2.5% that I've just announced, going forward we will recognise the incredible contribution of our intelligence and security services to the defence of the nation, which means taken together, we will be spending 2.6% on our defence from 2027."
Since Mr Trump seemingly abandoned the United States' more Ukraine-friendly approach to Russia's war, blindsiding much of Europe, Mr Starmer and other European leaders have stepped up diplomatic efforts to show a united front to support Kyiv.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has also called on member states to step up defence spending beyond their common goal of 2% of national output set a decade ago. According to NATO, Britain was the third-largest spender in cash terms in 2024, behind the United States and Germany.
Germany's likely next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has pledged to significantly raise defence spending but will need to navigate the possibility of far-right and left parties blocking his plans.
Mr Starmer heads to Washington, hoping to reassure Mr Trump that Europe will provide support and security guarantees to Kyiv if peace talks with Russia are successful.
Additional reporting Tommy Meskill, PA
