Overview

• In a Westminster address, Macron demanded an immediate, unconditional ceasefire in Gaza and pledged that Europe would never abandon Ukraine.
• He called on London and Paris to reduce dependency on the United States and China by deepening Franco-British defense ties and bolstering European strategic autonomy.
• On Thursday, Macron and Prime Minister Starmer will co-chair a virtual “coalition of volunteers” meeting to coordinate Ukraine support ahead of Friday’s bilateral summit.
• Negotiators are close to agreeing that the UK will return irregular Channel migrants to France in exchange for accepting asylum seekers with UK family connections.
• The summit will also seek breakthroughs on joint technology ventures, including an artificial intelligence forum and progress on the Sizewell C nuclear power project.