Sir Keir Starmer has accepted an invitation to visit President Donald Trump during his expected trip to Scotland this month.
Details, including a specific date, were still being finalised, a source has said, despite not being authorised to speak publicly.
Scottish police said they were preparing for a possible visit by Trump to Scotland later this month, which would mark his first visit to Britain since the US election last year.
It comes as Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron announced tougher migration controls, ending a state visit with deals on defence, nuclear cooperation and plans to support Ukraine in case of a ceasefire.
Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer
REUTERS
Earlier today, Starmer told President Trump’s Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, it was time to force Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table to try to secure a peace deal.
In the meantime, the focus should be on ensuring Ukraine is in the strongest possible position.
They agreed Paris would be the new headquarters of the “coalition of the willing”, rotating to London after the first 12 months. The group of nations would form a post-ceasefire force to regenerate land forces, secure Ukraine’s skies, and support safer seas.
“Supporting Ukraine is not just the right thing to do, it’s essential for delivering security at home,” said Starmer.
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Donald Trump speaks to Prime Minister Keir Starmer
REUTERS
Starmer pledged to boost overall defence and security spending to five per cent of economic output by 2035 to meet a Nato target.
The Prime Minister said it was “pretty obvious we’re living in volatile times, probably more volatile than most of us have lived through recently”.
However, he rejected the idea that the defence increases would have to come at the expense of Government’s spending on welfare, over which he is still facing a rebellion.
Both Starmer and Macron pledged to order more Storm Shadow cruise missiles, now used in Ukraine, and signed an agreement to deepen their nuclear cooperation, which will say for the first time that the respective deterrents of both countries can be coordinated.
Two White House sources told reporters Trump will send weapons to Kyiv under a presidential power frequently used by his predecessor, a move suggesting new interest by the President in defending Ukraine.
Trump’s team will identify arms from US stockpiles to send to Ukraine under the Presidential Drawdown Authority, the sources said, with one saying they could be worth around $300million (£220million).
Trump on Tuesday said the US would send more weapons to Ukraine to help the country defend itself against intensifying Russian advances.
The package could include defensive Patriot missiles and offensive medium-range rockets, but a decision on the exact equipment has not been made, the sources said.
