Sir Keir Starmer told Volodymyr Zelensky “you’re very, very welcome here in Downing Street” hours after the Ukrainian president was kicked out of the White House following a disastrous meeting with Donald Trump.

The two leaders warmly embraced outside the black door of Number 10 on Saturday, with the Prime Minister telling Mr Zelensky: “As you heard from the cheers on the street outside, you have full backing across the United Kingdom, and we stand with you, with Ukraine, for as long as it may take.”

He told Mr Zelensky of “our absolute determination to stand with you” and thanked him “very much for making the time to come”.

The comments were in marked contrast to the televised shouting match that unfolded in the Oval Office on Friday, when Mr Trump told Mr Zelensky “you’re gambling with World War Three” and ejected him from the White House, dashing hopes of reaching a peace agreement in Ukraine’s war with Russia.

In Downing Street, the Ukrainian president told the Prime Minister “we count on your support and really, really, really happy that we have such partners and such friends”.

He praised Britain for “such big support from the very beginning of the war”, thanking the Prime Minister and his team.