The Foreign Secretary travelled to Paris for the first high-level discussions between British, French and White House officials since February.

Britain’s former top spy has advised US president Donald Trump not to rush a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, dangling the prospect of a Nobel prize if he does so. Richard Dearlove, the ex-head of MI6, told NBC News that rushing a truce in the war could encourage president Vladimir Putin to launch other hostile forays into Europe.

The State Department said Rubio and Witkoff would be in the French capital on Thursday for the meetings. The officials will have “talks with European counterparts to advance President Trump’s goal to end the Russia-Ukraine war and stop the bloodshed,” department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said in a statement Wednesday.