Donald Trump has been invited for an unprecedented second state visit by the King, Sir Keir Starmer has said.
As well as the invite from the Palace, the US president said he would be visiting the UK in the “near future” as he met the Prime Minister at the White House.
Mr Trump and Sir Keir are meeting for crunch talks on Ukraine, trade and technology, with the Prime Minister set to push his US counterpart on the idea of a US “backstop” for any peace deal with Kyiv.
Sir Keir handed Mr Trump a letter from the King as the two were facing cameras in the Oval Office ahead of the more in-depth talks.
Mr Trump was also hosted by the late Queen on a state visit during his first term in office in 2019, but precedent for second-term US presidents who have already made a state visit is usually tea or lunch with the monarch at Windsor Castle, as was the case for George W Bush and Barack Obama.
Mr Trump showed the letter marked “private and confidential” and featuring Charles’s signature to the cameras gathered in the White House.
The Prime Minister will hope the promise to increase defence spending to a 2.5% share of the economy from April 2027 helps persuade Trump that European nations are serious about the security of their continent.
On Friday, Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky will meet Trump in Washington where they are expected to announce an agreement on Ukraine’s minerals.
Mr Zelensky and European leaders will then meet in the UK for talks hosted by Sir Keir on Sunday.
Follow the latest updates below.
Key Points
- Key timings: What to expect as Starmer meets Trump today
- Starmer demands "backstop" but Trump signals reluctancy
- "Donald Trump is absolutely right to end the war in Ukraine" says Hamish de Bretton-Gordon
- French officials also in talks with Ukraine over minerals as Trump eyes up deal
Trump ‘very impressed’ by Starmer’s ‘beautiful’ wife
20:17 , Sami QuadriDonald Trump has said he is “very impressed” with Sir Keir Starmer’s wife, Victoria, calling her a “beautiful, great woman.”
When asked whether the UK had to choose between closer ties with the EU or the US, the President said: “Well, I think we have just a great relationship. We actually had a good relationship before. We’ve met a couple of times and I’m very impressed with him, and very impressed with his wife.
“I must say, she’s a beautiful, great woman.”
Sir Keir responded: “I second that.”
Mr Trump added: “And I said, ‘you’re very lucky’. He’s very lucky. And, no, we’ve had a very good relationship.”
Asked if the UK’s push for closer ties with the EU could harm its relationship with the US, Mr Trump said: “No, I don’t worry about that.”
Starmer defends UK's free speech record after US Vice-President JD Vance's criticism
19:44 , Sami QuadriSir Keir Starmer has responded to US Vice-President JD Vance’s remarks at the Munich security conference regarding free speech violations in the UK.
Asked about his remarks, President Donald Trump pointed at Mr Vance, who said: “Look, I said what I said, which is that we do have, of course, a special relationship with our friends in the UK, and also some of our European allies, but we also know that there have been infringements on free speech that actually affect not just the British – of course what the British do in their own country is up to them – but also affect American technology companies and, by extension, American citizens, so that is something that we’ll talk about today at lunch.”
Sir Keir responded: “Well, we’ve had free speech for a very, very long time in the United Kingdom and it will last for a very, very long time.
“Certainly, we wouldn’t want to reach across US citizens, and we don’t, and that’s absolutely right, but in relation to free speech in the UK I’m very proud of our history there.”
Starmer corrects Trump on who is getting back cash provided to Ukraine
19:26 , Anthony FranceSir Keir Starmer corrected Donald Trump when the President claimed Europe but not the US was getting back some of the cash it has provided to Ukraine.
Mr Trump was asked by reporters what message he would send to Volodymyr Zelensky to ensure him Ukraine’s sovereignty would not be at threat.
The President replied: “He’s coming, perhaps he’s already on his way, and we’re going to be signing the deal together, probably in front of the media, and we’re going to be having a good conversation. No, we want to work with him, President Zelensky.”
Mr Trump said he had a “very good relationship” with the Ukrainian leader, adding: “It maybe got a little bit testy because we wanted to have a little bit of what the European nations had. You know, they they get their money back by giving money, we don’t get the money back. Biden made a deal. He put in 350 billion dollars and I thought it was a very unfair situation.”
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer refuted President Trump's claim that European nations "get their money back" from Ukraine, saying funding delivery to the country "mainly was gifted, actually." https://t.co/4kgxYqPN07 pic.twitter.com/gVc1aORaXV
— ABC News (@ABC) February 27, 2025
Sir Keir intervened to say: “We’re not getting all of ours. I mean, quite a bit of ours was gifted. It was given. There were some loans, but mainly it was gifted actually.”
French President Emmanuel Macron corrected Mr Trump on the same point during his visit to Washington earlier this week.
Trump: US would come to UK’s help if troops attacked by Russia ‘but they don’t need’ us
19:21 , Anthony FranceAsked if the US would come to the UK’s aid if British troops were attacked by Russia while keeping the peace in Ukraine, President Donald Trump said: “You know, I’ve always found about the British – they don’t need much help.
“They can take care of themselves very well.
“It sounds like it’s evasive but it’s not evasive. You know, the British have been incredible soldiers, incredible military, and they can take care of themselves.
“But if they need help, I’ll always be with the British, OK? I’ll always be with them – but they don’t need help.”
Trump: UK has done ‘very well over the years’ from special relationship with US
19:17 , Anthony FranceSir Keir Starmer has said the alliance between the US and the UK was “the greatest alliance for prosperity and security … the world has ever seen”.
Turning to the Prime Minster, President Donald Trump said: “You have done very well over the years, haven’t you?”
Sir Keir replied: “We have, I’m very proud of our country – but we’ve also always been there backing each other up.
“That is why this is the greatest alliance for prosperity and security, I think, the world has ever seen.
“Whenever necessary, we’ve absolutely backed each other up.”
Mr Trump then asked: “Could you take on Russia by yourselves?”
Sir Keir smiled and said: “Well…”
Trump: Putin will keep his word on Ukraine peace deal
19:11 , Anthony FranceDonald Trump said he thinks Vladimir Putin will keep his word while Sir Keir Starmer stressed the importance of making sure the Russian leader does not violate a potential peace deal.
Mr Trump said of Putin: “I’ve known him for a long time now and … I don’t believe he’s going to violate his word. I… when we make a deal, I think the deal is going to hold now.”
Sir Keir said: “I don’t think it would have happened if the space hadn’t been created by yourself.
“But if there’s a deal in, we’ve got to make sure it’s a deal that lasts, that is not temporary, that lasts, and that’s why we need to make sure that it’s secure.
“And we’ve leant in and said we’ll play our part, and we’ve talked and we will talk about how we work with yourself, Mr President, to ensure that this deal is something which is not violated because it’s very important, if there is a deal, we keep it.”
Trump hints UK may escape EU trade tariffs threat
19:06US President Donald Trump has said he will “have to take a look” at whether there will be any trade sanctions on the UK after previously threatening to extend tariffs on the EU.
Mr Trump said: “I can say that… we’re here for a different reason – we’re talking about a very different place.
“I have investments there, I own Turnberry, I own Aberdeen, and I own a great place called Doonbeg in Ireland.
“So, I have a great warm spot for your country.”
Sir Keir Starmer then said: “And our trade, obviously, is fair and balanced and, in fact, you’ve got a bit of surplus.
“So, we’re in a different position there – and obviously we contributed hugely in relation to Ukraine.”
Mr Trump said: “It’s going to work out.”
Asked if there will not be any sanctions on the UK, Mr Trump said: “Well, I have to take a look.”
Trump says Keir Starmer’s wife Victoria is a ‘beautiful, great woman’
19:03 , Anthony FranceDonald Trump has said he was “very impressed” with Sir Keir Starmer’s wife Victoria, who he described as a “beautiful, great woman”.
Asked whether the UK had to choose between a closer relationship with the EU and the US, the President said: “Well, I think we have just a great relationship. We actually had a good relationship before. We’ve met a couple of times and I’m very impressed with him, and very impressed with his wife.
“I must say, she’s a beautiful, great woman.”
Sir Keir intervened to say: “I second that.”
Mr Trump continued: “And I said, ‘you’re very lucky’. He’s very lucky. And, no, we’ve had a very good relationship.”
Asked if the UK would jeopardise its relationship with the US by seeking closer ties with the EU, Mr Trump said: “No, I don’t worry about that.”
Sir Keir Starmer thanks Trump for ‘changing the conversation’ on Ukraine
18:47 , Anthony FranceSir Keir Starmer thanked Donald Trump for “changing the conversation” on Ukraine, as he met the US President at the White House.
As the pair met, the Prime Minister said: “Thank you, Mr President. Can I say thank you for your hospitality, for your leadership.
“We have met a number of times, we talked a number of times, and we have had a very constructive conversation. I’m sure we will today.
“Of course, our countries have been bound together for a very long time now, the closest alliance I think of any two countries when it comes to prosperity and security, and I know that together, we will strengthen that even further
“And on issues like Ukraine, thank you for changing the conversation to bring about the possibility that now we can have a peace deal, and we want to work with you to make sure that peace deal is enduring, that it lasts, that it’s a deal that goes down as a historic deal that nobody breaches, and we will work with you to make sure that that absolutely happens.”
King Charles’s ‘private and confidential’ letter revealed by Trump
18:45 , Anthony FranceA letter from the King presented to Donald Trump by Sir Keir Starmer invited the US President for a “historic second state visit”.
Mr Trump showed the letter, marked “private and confidential” and featuring Charles’ signature, to the cameras gathered in the Oval Office.
The King suggested he and Mr Trump could meet before that visit, either at Dumfries House or Balmoral, which are near the businessman’s golf courses in Scotland, to discuss the plans for the much grander state visit.
The letter, partially obscured by Mr Trump’s hand, reads: “I can only say that it would be … pleasure to extend that invitation once again, in the hope that you … some stage be visiting Turnberry and a detour to a relatively near neighbour might not cause you too much inconvenience. An alternative might perhaps be for you to visit Balmoral…
“There is much on both estates which I think you might find interesting, and enjoy – particularly as my foundation at Dumfries House provides hospitality skills-training for young people who often end up as staff on your own establishments!”
Mr Trump showed the letter to cameras gathered in the White House, which read: “Quite apart from this presenting an opportunity to discuss a wide range of issues of mutual interest, it would also offer a valuable chance to plan a historic second state visit to the United Kingdom.
“As you will know this is unprecedented by a US President. That is why I would find it helpful for us to be able to discuss, together, a range of options for location and programme content.
“In so doing, working together, I know we will further enhance the special relationship between our two countries of which we are both so proud.”
In the King’s hand, the letter was signed: “Yours Most Sincerely, Charles.”
Trump: Ukraine minerals deal would be a security ‘backstop’
18:38 , Anthony FranceDonald Trump has said the planned deal with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on minerals would effectively be a security “backstop”.
The US President said: “President Zelensky is coming to see me on Friday morning. And we’re going be signing really a very important agreement for both sides because it’s really going to get us into that country, working there.”
He added it was ”a backstop, you could say”.
Sir Keir Starmer presents Trump with a letter from King Charles
18:33 , Anthony FranceDuring a meeting between the US president and Sir Keir Starmer at the White House on Thursday, the Prime Minister presented Mr Trump with a letter from the King, as he invited him for the visit.
As the two were sitting next to each other in the Oval Office, Mr Trump said he would be visiting the UK in the “near future”.
Mr Trump said in the Oval Office: “It’s a great honour to have Prime Minister Starmer at the Oval Office.
'This couldn’t have gone better for Keir Starmer.'@NatashaC tells @andrewmarr9 the PM’s mastered the careful art of diplomacy during his first visit to Donald Trump, after “whipping out” a letter from the King and delivering it to the President himself. pic.twitter.com/onMaygUjco
— LBC (@LBC) February 27, 2025
“It’s a very special place and he’s a special man – and the United Kingdom is a wonderful country that I know very well, I’m there a lot.
“I’ll be going there and we expect to see each other in the near future – we’ll be announcing it.”
President Trump ‘inclined to go along with’ PM’s Chagos Islands deal
18:27 , Anthony FranceUS President Donald Trump has said he is “inclined to go along with” the Prime Minister’s Chagos Islands deal.
The UK is in talks with Mauritius about handing over sovereignty of the territory, but leasing back the strategically important Diego Garcia military base which is used by the US.
Speaking at the White House on Thursday, President Trump said they would be having discussions about the deal during their meeting.
He added: “I have a feeling it’s going to work out very well.”
Indicating he would be inclined to back the Prime Minister’s deal, the US President said: “I think we’ll be inclined to go along with your country.”
Watch live as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer arrives at the White House to meet with US President Donald Trump https://t.co/xItZsH7tea
— Sky News (@SkyNews) February 27, 2025
https://t.co/SzR082BP22
The Foreign Secretary said on Wednesday he still believed the agreement to cede the British Indian Ocean Territory to Mauritius was the “best deal” which could be struck.
David Lammy said on Wednesday that if the US president does not like the deal then it “will not go forward”.
Donald Trump invited for unprecedented second state visit, says Starmer
18:09 , Sami QuadriDonald Trump has been invited for an unprecedented second state visit by the King, Sir Keir Starmer has said.
The US President said that he would be visiting the UK in “near future” as he met with the Prime Minister at the White House.
Sir Keir handed the US president a letter from the King as the pair were facing cameras in the Oval Office ahead of talks that are expected to cover a range of topics, including the war in Ukraine.
Mr Trump had greeted Sir Keir with a warm handshake as he arrived minutes earlier and said that “we can” reach a peace deal on Ukraine when asked by reporters.
The pair then entered the White House followed by Foreign Secretary David Lammy and the UK’s ambassador to the US Lord Mandelson.
Watch: The moment Starmer meets Trump
17:54 , Sami Quadri🚨🎥 WATCH: Keir Starmer arrives at the White House to meet President Trump pic.twitter.com/4z4QcvU4Nq
— Politics UK (@PolitlcsUK) February 27, 2025
Starmer arrives at White House
17:35 , Sami QuadriSir Keir Starmer has arrived at the White House, where he will soon be greeted by Donald Trump.
John Bolton: Starmer should win Nobel Prize if he gets Trump to back Ukraine security deal
17:15 , Sami QuadriSir Keir Starmer should be awarded a Nobel Prize if he can convince Donald Trump to provide security guarantees to Ukraine, former US national security adviser John Bolton has said.
Bolton, who previously worked under Trump, dismissed the chances of the former president agreeing to deploy a US peacekeeping force to Eastern Europe following his meeting with the prime minister as “absolute zero.”
“If Starmer can achieve that, then he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize, but I wouldn’t hold out a lot of hope,” he said.
Offering advice on how Starmer should handle negotiations with Trump, Bolton suggested appealing to the president’s self-interest.
“I wouldn’t spend a lot of time on the security of Ukraine, I wouldn’t spend a lot of time on Britain and what he’s done, I wouldn’t spend a lot of time on American national interest. I would spend a lot of time on Donald Trump’s ego,” he said.
Vladimir Putin warns ‘Western elites’ against undermining Russia-US talks ahead of Starmer-Trump meeting
16:57 , Sami QuadriVladimir Putin has warned that “Western elites” may attempt to derail Russia-US negotiations ahead of an upcoming meeting between Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump.
Speaking at a meeting of the FSB security agency, the Russian president said initial discussions with the US had provided “some hope” for addressing key issues, including the Ukraine conflict.
“The first contacts with the new US administration give some hope. There is a mutual desire to work on restoring relations,” Putin said.
However, he cautioned that “some Western elites will try to undermine our dialogue.”
Today's round up
15:45 , Tamara DavisonWe’re now just two hours away from Starmer’s meeting with Donald Trump at the White House in Washington DC.
Many policymakers are recognizing the importance of this week’s diplomatic talks and what they could mean not just for the UK but also for Ukraine.
Here’s a round-up of what we know so far:
- Starmer will meet with Trump at 5:15pm UK time today for talks before attending a joint press conference at 7:00pm UK time.
- The main talking point will be Ukraine and securing America’s support in achieving peace in the region while also ensuring both Europe and Ukraine have a seat at the table.
- Other topics the leaders are set to tackle include the economy, national security, AI developments and the Chagos Islands.
- Starmer’s positioning on the US leader has been challenged by some UK politicians. Sir Ian Duncan Smith and Ed Davey are urging Starmer to adopt a tough stance.
- Elsewhere, US and Russian diplomats met in Istanbul to discuss embassy resolutions, in yet another sign that Trump and Putin are warming to each other.
- Starmer’s meeting comes just days after Trump posted a widely condemned AI-generated video that appeared to depict the war-torn destruction of Gaza being transformed into a holiday destination full of gold statues of Trump.
- The UK PM recently announced an increase to the UK’s military funding while slashing foreign aid in an attempt to woo the US administration.
Trump might have sights on economic opportunity regarding Russia
15:30 , Tamara DavisonDonald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff told Fox News on Thursday that improving relations between Trump and Putin could be an opportunity to reopen economic relations.
"I think there'll be plenty of economic cooperation opportunities between the two countries," he told reporters.
This comes three years after the US-led efforts to inflict sanctions on Moscow following the invasion.
Ian Duncan Smith challenges Trump's response to Putin
15:15 , Tamara DavisonSir Iain Duncan Smith criticised Donald Trump, suggesting he misjudged Vladimir Putin’s ultimate goals.
Speaking in the Commons, Duncan Smith said:
“The idea that just meeting Putin’s demand for territory – that he may have got or not – at the moment somehow will appease him and will satisfy his requirements is, I think, a completely wrong judgement.
“I noticed in a telephone call between President Trump and Putin this is what President Trump said was important. The truth is Putin is an ex-KGB man. Once KGB, always KGB.
Duncan Smith also added: “He’s not interested in territory, he’s interested in sovereignty.”
“What we have to get lined up in here is the real nature of what Putin wants, and it’s not territory, it’s sovereignty.
Painting a grim picture of what’s to come, he went on: “He wants to recreate and has always wanted to recreate the full borders of the old Soviet Union in a greater Russia, we know that. And Ukraine isn’t about 20% of their territory, for him it’s all of Ukraine.
“So you have a peace deal which isn’t stable, he will be back.
“He’ll build up his armed forces, which he can do quite quickly now with the support of people like North Korea, and he will be back in double quick time.”
Ed Davey urges Keir Starmer to take tough stance
15:00 , Tamara DavisonEd Davey, leader of the Lib Dems, has taken to social media to urge the UK prime minister to stand up to Donald Trump.
He wrote: “With Donald Trump parroting Putin’s propaganda and prioritising America’s enemies over its friends, Keir Starmer must make it clear today: if Trump continues like this, the UK will not stay silent.”
Trump administration "pleased" with UK's increased defence spending
14:40 , Tamara DavisonReports from Reuters claim that a senior Trump official has said they are ‘Very pleased with UK’s increased defense spending’.
Earlier this week, Starmer revealed that the UK would increase its defence spending to 2.5% of national income by 2027.
To achieve this, he also announced cuts to the UK’s foreign aid funding.
Many suspect this move was in part designed to woo US counterparts ahead of today’s meeting.
Former White House staffer warns that Trump is unwell
14:36 , Tamara DavisonFormer director of communications Anthony Scaramucci has criticized his former boss during a recent podcast appearance.
On the show, he appeared to have a firm message for Keir Starmer:
“Trump's obviously got something wrong with him,” he said on Off Air... with Jane and Fi.
“I would say to Keir Starmer the guy is unwell and he's surrounded by willing sycophants that want to pretend that he's not unwell.”
US and Russia talks in Istanbul end after 6 hours
14:25 , Tamara DavisonToday’s meeting between Ukrainian and US representatives in Istanbul has now ended.
The two teams spoke for more than six hours about topics related to their respective embassies in Russia and the US.
Russian president Putin recently expressed his hopes about today’s meeting, but little further is known about what was discussed.
It comes on the same day as UK’s Keir Starmer readies to meet Donald Trump in just a few hours.
Kremlin rules out negotiations for annexed Ukrainian territory
14:00 , Tamara DavisonKremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has implied that annexed territories that Russia now claims authority over are not up for debate.
Peskov is referring to five regions of Ukraine: Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson and Crimea.
"The territories which have become subjects of the Russian Federation, which are inscribed in our country's constitution, are an inseparable part of our country. This is undeniable and non-negotiable," he said in front of reporters.
Putin expresses hopes about today's talks with US
13:45 , Tamara DavisonRussian president Vladimir Putin suggested he is hopeful as Russian and American teams meet for talks in Istanbul.
"The first contacts with the new US administration give some hope. There is a mutual desire to work on restoring relations," he said.
The meeting is happening behind closed doors between diplomats, and it is unclear who is in attendance.
Prime Minister's Office addresses Russia's "illegal war"
13:30 , Tamara DavisonIn a statement ahead of Starmer’s meeting with Trump, the Prime Minister’s Office said:
“The Prime Minister and President Trump share a commitment to delivering lasting peace in Ukraine, and the Prime Minister will reiterate the UK’s commitment to securing a just and enduring peace, bringing an end to Russia’s illegal war.”
What minerals does Ukraine have?
13:18 , Tamara DavisonThere’s been a lot of discussion around Ukraine’s mineral deposits today as Zelenskyy prepares for talks with Trump tomorrow.
In a surprising revelation, we’ve just learned that France has been talking to Ukraine about access to their rare earth elements.
So, what exactly does Ukraine have? And how much leverage does this bargaining chip have?
Ukraine has a number of “critical” minerals, including copper, nickel, lithium, and titanium, and these are crucial for their use in defence systems, technological manufacturing, and green energy.
Trump reportedly hopes to gain access to them, and in response, he would provide “military equipment and the right to fight on.”
Former Deputy Foreign Secretary takes aim at Starmer's foreign aid cut
13:00 , Tamara DavisonAndrew Mitchell, the former Deputy Foreign Secretary, has branded Starmer’s foreign aid cut as “wrong”.
In an opinion piece for The Independent, he suggested that the cuts wuld actually benefit Russia and China.
He added that David Lammy had “warned that spaces we vacate would be filled by our adversaries. History will judge this to be a strategic disaster of our own making."
World is becoming "ever more dangerous" warns Keir Starmer ahead of meeting with Trump
12:43 , Tamara Davison“The world is becoming ever more dangerous, and it is more important than ever that we are united with our allies," Keir Starmer said in a statement.
He added: “A stable economy, secure borders and national security are the foundations of my Plan for Change, and the US-UK relationship is integral to delivering them.
“These principles will be at the heart of discussions with President Trump today.”
US holds some sway on future on Chagos Islands agreement
12:30 , Tamara DavisonIt would be “very, very odd” if the UK acted “unilaterally” when it comes to the deal over the Chagos Islands, a Cabinet minister has said, after the Foreign Secretary said it would not go ahead without the backing of Donald Trump.
David Lammy said on Wednesday that if the US president does not like the deal, then it “will not go forward”.
The UK had previously announced it planned to hand over sovereignty of the islands - which are home to both UK and US military - to Mauritius.
"Why Donald Trump is absolutely right to end the war in Ukraine"
12:29 , Tamara DavisonHamish de Bretton-Gordon weighs in on efforts to achieve peace in Ukraine:
“Peace at any price may be worth having. But only the people of Ukraine should decide this.
While there is a fear that partial peace now will only allow Putin to re-arm and return, the truth is that this deal could really end the war — and give Europe time to re-arm and deter any future invasion.
The UK’s new commitment to increase defence spending initially to 2.5 per cent and then to three per cent does send a strong psychological message to Putin, Zelensky and Trump.
With many other European nations looking likely to follow suit, even Putin must realise that his collapsing economy will disintegrate if he tries to match European military and economic horsepower.”
French officials claim they're also in talks with Ukraine over minerals
12:24 , Tamara DavisonFrench politicians have revealed that they have also been in discussion with Ukraine over access to their rare earth elements.
French defence minister Sebastien Lecornu told local outlets: "We are speaking about this issue for our own French needs. I have defence industries that will need access to a certain number of raw materials in the years to come."
This comes amid reports that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet with Trump tomorrow to discuss a deal over US access to Ukraine’s mineral deposits.
What's at stake?
12:15 , Tamara DavisonA lot hinges on today’s discussions between Donald Trump and Keir Starmer.
Namely, the amount of support that the US is willing to offer European counterparts to protect Ukraine from Russian aggression.
Trump has signalled that he’s unwilling to offer much, but it remains to be seen what’s hashed out.
There’s a lot at stake.
As politicians prepare for these crucial conversations, reports revealed that six Ukrainian civilians lost their lives and dozens were injured in ongoing Russian attacks near the frontline.
Russia also struck Ukraine with 166 drones overnight, with more than half reportedly shot down by Ukraine.
What to expect as Starmer meets Trump today
11:45 , Tamara DavisonHere’s a quick reminder about the timings of today’s meeting between UK PM Keir Starmer and US President Donald Trump.
Starmer has already arrived in the US but will only make his way to the White House in the afternoon.
It’s been reported that Starmer will arrive at 12:15pm local time at the Oval Office (which is 5:15pm UK time).
The leaders will then head to private discussions.
Starmer and Trump will then appear in a joint news conference at 2pm local time (which is 7pm UK time).
Details emerge about other potential talking points between Starmer and Trump
11:30 , Tamara DavisonThe most pressing topic on the table will likely be Ukraine and how to secure long-term peace and stability across the region.
While there’s been no official statement about what else Keir Starmer intends to address when he meets Donald Trump, some details are being revealed among political circles.
Other potential topics could include the Chagos Islands, AI technology and broader defence strategies.
Cabinet Minister outlines "really important week" for Ukraine war
11:15 , Tamara DavisonPeter Kyle, the UK’s Science and Technology Secretary, has stressed just how important this week’s diplomacy will be.
Speaking to Sky News, he said it was a "really important week" for the future of Ukraine, adding that the war will be "the number one item" on Starmer’s agenda.
Mr Kyle added that the goal of Starmer and Trump’s meeting is to “establish the special relationship for the era that we’re living in."
Trump unveils 25% EU tariffs ahead of Starmer meeting
11:00 , Tamara DavisonTrump has raised questions about international trade strategy after he unveiled plans to hit the EU with 25% tariffs.
"We'll be announcing it very soon," he said. "It'll be 25% generally speaking and that will be on cars and all other things."
Elsewhere he also suggested that the EU bloc was created to "screw the United States".
Zelensky meeting pencilled in for Friday
10:45 , Tamara DavisonAfter meeting Keir Starmer on Thursday, it’s understood that Donald Trump will also sit down with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky the following day.
The US president has boasted that this could lead to a ‘deal’ on minerals, with Ukraine also confirming that Kyiv is "preparing for negotiations as early as this Friday."
European leaders, including Zelensky and British representatives, are then reportedly due to meet in London on March 2 for discussions on defence and security.
UK politicians urge Starmer to oppose Trump's Gaza plan
10:35 , Tamara DavisonCarla Denyer of the Green Party urged Keir Starmer to push back against Trump’s controversial (and likely illegal) plans to remove Palestinians from Gaza.
She urged the PM to draw the lines, adding: “He must also make clear that the same applies to Palestinians, and tell Trump that the UK will stand firmly against his appalling plan to remove Palestinians from Gaza – effectively a threat of ethnic cleansing."
Starmer’s meeting comes just a day after Trump shared a ‘horrific’ AI-generated clip on social media that’s been condemned by even his own supporters.
The clip envisions the Gaza Strip as a futuristic city where people walk around with gold balloons in “Trump Gaza.”
What we know about Starmer's position on Russia and Ukraine
10:20 , Tamara DavisonIt’s been more than three years since Russia invaded Ukraine, but could an end to the war be in sight?
Trump has recently signalled openness to reaching a peace agreement with Moscow, at the alarm of European leaders who may have been sidelined.
Ahead of his meeting with Donald Trump today, Starmer reaffirmed his thoughts on the ongoing Ukraine and Russia conflict.
Starmer maintained that Russia is “the aggressor.”
“They have invaded and occupied a sovereign country in Europe, and they bear full responsibility for the conflict,” he told reporters.
Asked if Trump knew that, the PM said: “Of course, the president has been very clear about the peace that he wants. He’s right about that. We all want peace.”
What we know so far...
10:00 , Tamara DavisonIt’s very early in the morning Washington DC right now, but the day’s critical events will soon swing into gear.
Here is what we know about Sir Keir Starmer’s upcoming meeting with President Donald Trump:
- Starmer goes into this meeting with hopes of securing US support for a ‘backstop’ while working toward peace in Ukraine.
- UK hopes to reiterate the ‘special relationship’ it shares with US counterparts as well as mutual goals.
- Trump has signalled that he wants Europe to do more to protect Ukraine, as well as upping military guarantees.
- Reports claim the leaders will meet in the early evening before a joint press conference.
- Not much has been revealed about other talking points on the agenda for today but everything from trade and tariffs to broader defence challenges may be discussed.
Stay tuned for more live coverage of todays events.
US officials prepare for talks with Russia on same day as Starmer to meet Trump
09:40 , Tamara DavisonWhile all eyes are on the upcoming meeting between Keir Starmer and Donald Trump, there’s also talks happening elsewhere in the world.
On Thursday morning, a Russian delegation arrived in Istanbul ahead of a meeting with US diplomats.
According to Reuters, the two teams will meet for up to six hours and discuss ways to resolve disputes over the work of their embassies in Washington and Moscow.
Both the US and Moscow had previously expelled diplomats over the last decade, placing a strain on embassy operations.
Starmer and Lammy pictured at a welcome reception
09:35 , Tamara DavisonStarmer was joined by Foreign Secretary David Lammy at a welcome reception at Britain's ambassador's residence on Wednesday after they landed in the US.
What time wil Starmer meet with Trump?
09:20 , Tamara DavisonAccording to the latest reports, Keir Starmer is expected to arrive at the White House at 5:15pm UK time today.
The politicians will reportedly meet at the Oval Office before moving onto a private lunch for further talks ahead of a joint press conference.
Will Starmer's gamble pay off?
09:10 , Tamara DavisonJust days ago, Starmer confirmed that the UK would slash their overseas aid funding (in a similar move to the US) and increase the military budget.
Critics have claimed this will have a “devastating” effect not just overseas, but in the UK as well.
Just as a reference, Ukraine is actually the biggest recipient of UK aid, alongside Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Syria and Yemen.
Some reports claim that Starmer’s recent move was an effort to help sway Trump in their upcoming discussions.
UK defence secretary, John Healey, told the BBC that “President Trump, over the last two weeks, has been very direct in his challenge.”
“He’s reinforced the imperative and the importance of Britain making this commitment and helping other European countries to step up in a similar way.
Starmer reiterates 'special relationship' as he arrives in Washington
08:55 , Tamara DavisonStarmer has arrived in Washington and addressed reporters ahead of his meeting with Donald Trump.
"As you know, I've met him, I've spoken to him on the phone, and this relationship between our two countries is a special relationship with a long history, forged as we fought wars together, as we traded together,” he said about Trump.
"And as I say, I want it to go from strength to strength."
Republican pollster "optimistic" about "positive" outcome for UK and US
08:45 , Tamara DavisonRepublican pollster Frank Luntz told BBC Breakfast this morning that he was "optimistic" that today’s meeting between Trump and Starmer will be “positive” for both sides.
However, he also added that there might be some differences of opinion on the topic of Ukraine.
He suggested that "leader after leader" was trying to convince the US to remain involved and engaged.
However, he claimed that Americans are "less and less supportive of the war…of spending even more money”.
Starmer demands "backstop" but Trump signals reluctancy
08:35 , Tamara DavisonIt’s understood that Starmer plans to discuss a potential “backstop,” reinforcing crucial US support in stopping Russia from further aggression.
The PM previously said he would be open to placing UK troops in Ukraine for a peacekeeping mission, but this needed the full support of the US to “deter Putin from coming again”.
It’s been reported that Trump has said he wouldn’t provide security “beyond very much” for Ukraine and Europe.
Read more of our analysis here.
Welcome to today's live blog
08:18 , Tamara DavisonGood morning, and welcome to today’s live coverage of Keir Starmer’s upcoming meeting with US President Donald Trump.
We’ll be bringing you all the latest updates from Starmer’s trip, including everything we know about what the two leaders are expected to discuss.
Top of the agenda will be discussions surrounding the Ukraine conflict and securing peace within the region three years after Russia invaded.
