WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will host British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at the White House next week for talks on Ukraine, climate issues and more.
Sunak is scheduled to travel to Washington on June 7-8 and will also meet with U.S. lawmakers and business leaders in addition to his Oval Office meeting next Thursday with Biden.
The meeting comes after the White House announced earlier this month that Biden was endorsing an international effort forged by the UK and other allies to train – and eventually equip – Ukraine with the F-fighter jets. 16 that President Volodymyr Zelesnkky had been looking for for a long time. Biden is scheduled to meet Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, another key partner in the F-16 effort, on Monday.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement that the two leaders also looked forward to the US-British economic relationship and developments in Northern Ireland. British officials played down hopes the visit would produce meaningful action to forge a new US-UK trade deal, which the UK government is accepting for now.
Sunak spokesman Max Blain said he wouldn’t expect either party to push for that, adding “We’re not currently looking to enter into a settlement agreement. free trade with the United States”.