KEIR Starmer will fly to the United States on Wednesday ahead of crunch talks with Donald Trump, following Ukraine agreeing to allow the USA access to the country's rare earth minerals.
The Prime Minister will travel to Washington DC after Prime Minister’s Questions today, following his announcement of a dramatic increase in the size of the UK’s war chest, which drew condemnation from several charities due the subsequent slashing of foreign aid.
Following this, Chancellor Rachel Reeves called on European allies to step up defence spending after the UK pledged to raise spending from its current 2.3% to 2.5% of the UK’s economic output by 2027.
She said: “That is why, over the coming days, I will be talking to European counterparts at the G20 in South Africa about the importance of security and defence for our economies, and how we can work together to bolster them.”
The Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to visit The White House on Friday following Kyiv agreeing to a minerals deal which would see Ukraine sign over 50% of its rare minerals.
Officials speaking on condition of anonymity said that Kyiv hopes that signing the agreement will ensure the continued flow of US military support that Ukraine urgently needs.
Zelenskyy claimed the 50% share of rare minerals initially demanded by America would have been akin to selling his nation, but Ukraine now appears satisfied the deal will lead to a continued flow of US military support in its war against Russia.
Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna said the minerals deal was part of wider talks between the two countries.
“We have heard multiple times from the US administration that it’s part of a bigger picture,” she told the Financial Times.
