The prime minister will push a reluctant Trump to provide a US backstop to a British and French-led peacekeeping force in the country.

Starmer, who will meet the US president at the White House on Thursday, is prepared to commit British troops but believes that US promises are vital to “deter Putin from coming again”.

Ahead of the meeting, he insisted that the UK was working “in lockstep” with the president on the matter of Ukraine.

Asked whether he could trust Trump following the events of recent weeks, Starmer said: “Yes, I’ve got a good relationship with him.

.The prime minister is expected to say there can be no negotiations about Ukraine, without Ukraine and will recognise the need for Europe to play its part in global defence. 

Starmer will hope to engage Trump in discussions about ensuring sustained funding for Ukraine. 

In his first cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Trump said that he “hopes we’ll be able to settle this up” when talking about Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. 

When asked for more details, he said: “I’m not going to make security guarantees beyond very much.”