Starmer has his final call of 2025 with Donald Trump to discuss Ukraine and Gaza
Sir Keir Starmer has spoken to US President Donald Trump in what is likely to be his last phone call of 2025.
According to No 10, the two leaders discussed the war in Ukraine, the ongoing humanitarian situation in Gaza and the appointment of a new ambassador to Washington DC during their meeting on Sunday afternoon.
A Downing Street spokesman said: “The Prime Minister spoke to the President of the United States, Donald Trump, this afternoon. The two leaders began by reflecting on the war in Ukraine.
“The Prime Minister briefed us on the work of the Coalition of Volunteers to support any peace agreement and bring a just and lasting end to hostilities.
“Returning to the Middle East, leaders discussed the situation in Gaza.”
The Prime Minister also greeted Trump with Britain’s new Ambassador to the US, Dr., before wishing each other a Merry Christmas. He gave information about the appointment of Christian Turner.
Speaking to Sir Keir from his Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago, the Prime Minister is said to have told Mr Trump that Mr Turner’s appointment would “further deepen the relationship between our two countries”.
Mr Turner, a veteran diplomat who is now the UK’s permanent representative to the United Nations, will take over the post vacated by Lord Mandelson, who was sacked by Sir Keir in September after the extent of his friendship with pedophile Jeffrey Epstein was revealed.
Sir Keir has developed a strong personal relationship with Trump and generally does his best to avoid speaking negatively about the US president.
But recently the prime minister said he wouldn’t let anyone talk to his daughter the way Trump spoke to a reporter and used “quiet piggy” language.
When the US president tried to ask reporter Catherine Lucey a question about Epstein on Air Force One last month, the US president made the offensive remarks before starting to wag his finger in her face.
The call came after the US said it would offer Ukraine NATO-style protection and Trump claimed they were “closer now than ever” to a peace deal for Ukraine.
Kremlin official Kirill Dmitriev said that peace plan talks with the United States continue “constructively” in Florida after meeting with US President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner in Miami on Saturday.
The US president was also involved in brokering the agreement between Israel and Hamas, which promised to end Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and return all repatriated hostages. However, authorities in Gaza say that approximately 400 people, including children, have been killed by Israeli fire since the ceasefire came into force.
