UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will host French President Emmanuel Macron for lunch at Downing Street during a state visit—the first by an EU leader since Brexit. They’re expected to discuss immigration and Ukraine. Starmer hopes to secure a returns deal for asylum seekers, aiming to curb Channel crossings. France has previously rejected bilateral deals, urging the UK to negotiate with the EU. For in-depth analysis and a deeper perspective, FRANCE 24's Sharon Gaffney welcomes Dr. Carmine Conte, Senior Legal Policy Analyst at the Migration Policy Group.