Trump has repeatedly claimed that the US has done more than Europe to financially support Ukraine in the war. He says the US has spent between $300bn to $350bn on the Ukraine war, contradicting figures Ukraine's figures, which suggest American expenditure is a lot less.

The Kiel Institute, a think tank based in Germany, estimates the US has sent $119bn in aid to Ukraine, while their total funding for wider-ranging activity - including replenishing defence stocks and military support in Europe - amounts to $182bn, which isstill less than the amount Trump claims the US has spent on Ukraine.

It's likely US President Donald Trump will ask for a higher defence spending commitment from UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, a former staff member of the US embassy in the UK says.

He'll also ask for this commitment to come about in a shorter amount of time, Michael Martins - who has been in the room during previous negotiations between Starmer and Trump - tells BBC Radio 5 Live.

"An increase of 0.2% of GDP over two or three years is not going to cut it with President Trump. I think he wants to see a higher number and that'll be something he continues to push for within Europe and with Nato member states," he says.

Michael says it's unlikely Trump will deploy US troops to Ukraine. Instead, he'll push for "economic deterrence" by trying to get American businesses into Ukraine, he says.

Image source, Reuters

Earlier this week, UK Prime Minster Keir Starmer addressed the Commons with his new approach to defence spending, ahead of his visit to the White House later today.

Here's four key pledges he announced in his statement:

• The government is promising to increase UK defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, up from 2.3% - this is the biggest increase in defence spending since the Cold War, Starmer said
• The UK will increase defence spending to 3% of its GDP in the next parliament
• With these new commitments, he says the UK will spend £13.4bn more on defence every year from 2027 onward
• To fund this increase, foreign aid will be slashed from 0.5% to 0.3% in 2027 to fund the greater investment into defence. That represents billions of pounds worth of cuts

The announcement was welcomed by opposition leaders, as the PM said Ukraine will be happy to see "unity in our house".

James Landale
Diplomatic correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Sir Keir Starmer's promise to increase defence spending will have several consequences.

It may one day actually strengthen the UK's ability to defend itself. More immediately it will mean billions less spent on foreign aid.

But what will it buy the prime minister diplomatically in Washington?

In times past visiting dignitaries would give emperors gifts and tributes. Starmer will now turn up at the White House on Thursday with a large goodie bag marked "more defence spending".

Donald Trump is just the latest in a long line of US presidents urging European powers to spend more on their own defence.

The prime minister will be able to say to the president that he has heard the call and acted.

So Starmer's announcement may well get his foot in the door at the White House and a hearing from the president.

Will it help Starmer make the case for the security of Ukraine and Europe? Will Trump now be more amenable to allowing both a seat at the negotiating table?

The answer to those questions is not clear cut.

• You can read more here on what diplomatic power Starmer's defence plans may have in Washington

Elsewhere in Europe, a Russian delegation has arrived in Istanbul for talks with American officials.

The dialogue is aimed at resolving disputes over the work of their embassies in Washington DC and Moscow.

It comes as Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also said that Turkey would play "important roles" in ending the Ukraine war.

Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, Turkey has sought to carve out a mediator role and has maintained close ties with both Ukraine and Russia.

BBC Monitoring

Image source, Getty Images

We've been reporting on how the US and Ukraine have now reached a new agreement on access to rare earth mineral deposits.

But earlier this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin also hinted at a possible collaboration with Washington on the development of its rare earth metals.

"Russia is one of the undisputed leaders in terms of reserves of these rare earth metals. We have them in the north - in Murmansk, in the Caucasus - in Kabardino-Balkaria, in the Far East, in Irkutsk Region, in Yakutia, in Tyva. These are quite capital-intensive investments," Putin claimed.

The development of the Tomtor rare earth deposit in Yakutia, one of the largest in the world, is the most promising for attracting foreign investors, Maxim Khudalov, chief strategist of the Vector Capital investment company, told business daily Vedomosti.

From a US perspective, Washington may be most interested in rare earths such as neodymium and praseodymium, which are used to make permanent magnets for microelectronics, as well as lanthanum and cerium, Khudalov said.

However, as exiled outlet Novaya Gazeta Europe pointed out, current US sanctions prohibit the country from investing in Russia's rare earths.

We've just heard from Republican pollster Frank Luntz who says that Ukraine and the US are "at odds" in terms of what they want out of the minerals deal.

"The President [Trump] has been clear that he is seeking to get out of and not make additional agreements with Ukraine when it comes to the military effort", he tells BBC Breakfast, referring to Zelensky's push for security guarantees.

Europe, he says, "has a different point of view" to Trump in that they want the US involved and engaged, with "leader after leader" coming to Washington to "make their case".

Luntz adds that a "major difference" between the US and Europe is that the American people are "less and less supportive of the war…of spending even more money”.

Talking about tariffs and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's upcoming meeting with Trump, he says he is "optimistic" there will be something "positive" for both British and Americans.

During a visit to Washington on Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to sign an agreement that would give the US access to its rare earth mineral deposits.

Key details have not yet been made public, but reports suggest the US request for $500bn (£395bn) in revenues from using Ukraine's natural resources had been dropped.

The Ukrainian prime minister said Kyiv and Washington would manage the fund on “equal terms”, while the New York Times - citing a draft document of the agreement - reported that the US would own the maximum amount of the fund allowed under US law.

Security guarantees from the US to deter renewed Russian aggression – cited as essential by Zelensky – have also not been made.

US President Donald Trump has reiterated that such assurances should be made by Europe and lauded the deal as an opportunity for the US to get a return on the money spent on aid for Ukraine. Zelensky has called it a "framework agreement" upon which he hopes further deals can be made.

• What we know about US-Ukraine minerals deal

Image source, Getty Images

As we've been reporting, intense fighting is continuing on the Ukrainian front as President Volodymyr Zelensky has been pushing for any minerals deal to include a firm security guarantee from the US.

However, yesterday he conceded that no such guarantee had been made.

"I wanted to have a sentence on security guarantees for Ukraine, and it's important that it's there," he said.

Asked by the BBC if he would be prepared to walk away from the agreement if Trump did not offer the guarantees he wanted, Zelensky said: "I want to find a Nato path or something similar.

"If we don't get security guarantees, we won't have a ceasefire, nothing will work, nothing."

As the US, UK and Europe continue to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine, its military has reported intense fighting with Russian troops in the Kharkiv, Kupyansk, Kramatorsk and Lyman regions.

The general staff of the armed forces of Ukraine said 110 "combat engagements" happened on Wednesday, with the Pokrovsk region in the east being "the hottest spot on the front line".

Separately, South Korea's intelligence agency has said that North Korea appears to have deployed extra troops to support Russia's war against Ukraine.

"Following about a month-long lull, North Korean troops were placed back in the frontline region of Kursk starting in the first week of February," the National Intelligence Service said.

The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas has reiterated that "for any kind of deal to work on European soil, you need the Europeans to also agree to it".

Kallas told the BBC yesterday that striking mineral resources deals was up to Ukraine, but any peace agreement would "need the Europeans on board".

Kallas was scheduled to meet with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday to discuss the state of the war in Ukraine but the meeting was abruptly cancelled, with both sides citing scheduling issues.

Chris Mason
Political editor, travelling with Keir Starmer

On the flight here, Sir Keir Starmer was notably guarded, acutely aware that a single stray sentence could rile an unpredictable president.

He repeated his desire for a so-called US “backstop” to maintain Ukraine’s security after any ceasefire.

“The security guarantee has to be sufficient to deter Putin from coming again,” he told us.

But President Trump said: "I'm not going to make security guarantees beyond very much. We're going to have Europe do that.”

The president did, though, add that the expected deal between Washington and Kyiv over access to Ukrainian minerals was “great” for Ukraine “because they get us over there.”

Trade is another expected talking point in the leaders’ discussions. Downing Street wants what it calls “further integration” between the two countries’ technology sectors.

At a reception last night at the British Embassy attended by Trump Administration officials, the prime minister referred to Elon Musk’s recent stunt of wielding a "bureaucracy chainsaw" to cut regulations.

The potential flashpoints for Starmer later are numerous and considerable – it is a landmark moment in his first year as prime minister.

Image source, Getty Images

Keir Starmer has underlined the importance of unity ahead of his meeting in the White House today.

"The world is becoming ever more dangerous, and it is more important than ever that we are united with our allies," Starmer said in comments released by Downing Street.

The prime minister also referenced the economy, borders and national security as key items on his agenda with the government also pointing to AI and space as opportunities for closer cooperation with the US.

On Wednesday, Starmer had been due to meet with CEOs of large US businesses in a bid to showcase the UK’s offer for investors.

The war in Ukraine will be a focal point for the meeting and it follows Macron’s visit to Washington DC at the start of the week when he met US President Donald Trump to discuss Ukrainian security.

Days after the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion, the prime minister has said he would make the case that there should be no negotiations about Ukraine without Ukraine.

Thomas Mackintosh
Live reporter

Good morning from London and welcome to our coverage of the latest developments in the war in Ukraine.

We're looking at a busy few days in the White House as US President Donald Trump will welcome UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer later today and is set to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky tomorrow to sign a rare earth minerals agreement.

As part of that deal, Zelensky wants clear guarantees of US military support in Ukraine, but Trump appeared to pour cold water on that idea telling his first cabinet meeting he is “not going to make security guarantees beyond very much”.

Trump has been clear he wants European nations to step up defence spending and provide more security guarantees for Ukraine.

Stay with us as we bring you the latest news and analysis from our correspondents in Ukraine and the United States.