World leaders last night agreed a new 'surge' of support to defeat Vladimir Putin in Ukraine after the Kremlin bombed Kyiv while the G7 met.

At a summit in Germany, Emmanuel Macron, who had been seen by No 10 as wavering, yesterday said he was committed for the long haul.

Boris Johnson said 'backing down' now would be a catastrophic mistake as he warned against encouraging Volodymyr Zelensky to accept a peace deal.

An error has occurred, please try again later
Error code 200

Downing Street said the Russian leader's decision to fire missiles on the Ukrainian capital had been 'stupid' and had 'stiffened the resolve' of leaders.

The spokesperson added that Macron and Johnson, who have until now had a strained relationship, were 'aligned' as the French said the defeat of Russia is 'option number one' and peace is 'number two'.

'There is a real sense that Putin was stupid to bomb Kyiv as the G7 gathered', a No 10 source said. 'It has made the leaders more united'.

The timing of the attack was seen as a pointed message to world leaders to encourage Ukraine into a peace deal where it cedes large portions of its territory.

A Downing Street spokesman also warned that 'enduring instability' could be created if Putin was not curtailed now from launching similar attacks on other countries.

The Prime Minister yesterday argued that the leaders must help 'strengthen Ukraine's hand' by providing more military support rather than encourage Mr Zelensky to give up territory in a peace deal.

Downing Street clarified to the Telegraph that this remark about peace by Mr Johnson was to 'the commentariat' and not to the G7.

'It's not helpful to discuss the individual leaders and their views expressed in private,' a spokesman added. 'I think what you will see in this G7 is that they are united in support for Ukraine.'

Mr Johnson and Mr Macron, who have until now had a strained relationship, yesterday agreed to a 'reset' as they held one-on-one talks at the summit. But the Downing Street spokesman refused to say whether both leaders had reached an agreement.

A No 10 source told the Daily Mail that they now believed the French president was 'on the right page' when it came to Ukraine. He said: 'They're getting on well, they had a very good meeting. It's all great with the French now.

'Both sides are aligned. [Mr] Macron said the defeat of Russia is option number one to pursue. Option two is put [Mr] Zelensky in the best position to strike a deal.

'We found that positive and officials say we are heading for a strong statement from this summit on Ukraine.'

In talks with Mr Macron, Mr Johnson 'stressed any attempt to settle the conflict now will only cause enduring instability and give Putin licence to manipulate both sovereign countries and international markets in perpetuity'.

'The leaders agreed to continue and enhance the close work between the UK and France on areas including defence and security,' the spokesman added to the Telegraph.

The PM said yesterday: 'The consequences of what's happening for the world are tough, but the price of backing down, the price of allowing Putin to succeed, to hack off huge parts of Ukraine, to continue with his programme of conquest, that price will be far, far higher and everybody here understands that.'

In behind-the-scenes discussions, he reportedly told world leaders they must back an Iraq-style surge strategy to help Ukraine strike a decisive blow to win the war.

The comments came after Mr Johnson's spokesman said he 'firmly believes that it is in everyone's interest to push back against Russia's invasion to support Ukraine, because failing to do so would have significant knock-on impacts'.

The spokesman added: 'It would embolden other authoritarian countries, and it would put the peace and prosperity of the United Kingdom at risk.'

The message was repeated by US President Joe Biden, who said: 'We have to stay together, because Putin has been counting on from the beginning that somehow Nato and the G7 would splinter. But we haven't and we're not going to.'