Russian and U.S. diplomats met in Turkey on Thursday for talks to resolve disputes over the work of their respective embassies in Washington and Moscow, a first test of their ability to reset wider relations and work towards ending the war in Ukraine. The Kremlin last year described relations as "below zero" under the administration of Joe Biden, who backed Ukraine with aid and weapons and imposed waves of sanctions on Russia to punish it for its 2022 invasion.

But his successor, President Donald Trump, has upended that policy and moved swiftly since taking office last month to open talks with Moscow, pledging to fulfil his repeated promise to bring a quick end to the war. The talks in Istanbul follow a phone call between Trump and President Vladimir Putin on February 12, and a high-level diplomatic meeting in Saudi Arabia six days later.

Ukraine and its European allies are worried that Trump's rapid rapprochement with Moscow could lead to a deal on ending the war that sidelines them and undermines their security. Trump says he wants to end the bloodshed with an early ceasefire. Putin this week tempered expectations of a quick deal, saying it was essential to rebuild trust between Russia and the United States before anything could be achieved.

British PM Keir Starmer in US 

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer flew to Washington on Wednesday after announcing a big increase in the British defence budget, an investment that he hopes will help persuade the US President to maintain support for Ukraine.

Starmer's visit to the White House on Thursday is part of European efforts - following a trip to Washington by French President Emmanuel Macron earlier this week - to ensure Kyiv gets a voice in negotiations, and that the US still backs Europe in dealing with an aggressive Russia on its doorstep.