The Times reports that the British prime minister is scheduled to visit the US in late January or early February.
The Times reports that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will seek to persuade President-elect Donald Trump to continue supporting Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. Downing Street sources indicate Starmer may visit the White House in “late January, early February,” shortly after Trump’s inauguration on January 20th.
The article states that Starmer will strongly urge Trump to maintain weapons shipments to Kyiv. This comes despite Trump’s previous campaign promises to swiftly resolve the conflict and his criticism of the Biden administration’s financial commitment to arming Ukraine. Reports suggest Trump might attempt to use aid to Ukraine as leverage to pressure President Zelensky into peace negotiations.
Russian authorities have expressed willingness to negotiate with Trump on the Ukraine conflict, but only under conditions that acknowledge the current situation on the ground. Moscow has consistently denounced military aid to Ukraine from the US, UK, and other Western nations, claiming it prolongs the conflict and risks direct confrontation between Russia and NATO.
In October, Trump’s campaign accused Starmer’s Labour Party of “blatant foreign interference” in the US election, filing a Federal Election Commission (FEC) complaint regarding reports of British Labour activists campaigning for Kamala Harris. On Friday, Trump criticized Britain’s windfall tax on North Sea oil producers, suggesting it might cause US companies to withdraw from the region. He stated on Truth Social, “The UK is making a very big mistake. Open up the North Sea. Get rid of Windmills.”
Last week, Elon Musk, a recent ally of Trump, advocated for early UK elections, blaming Starmer for “complicity in the rape of Britain” during his time as head of the Crown Prosecution Service (2008-2013). Musk also highlighted the significant drop in Labour’s approval rating, citing a YouGov poll showing only 12% public approval.