The head of the British armed forces has held talks with his counterpart in Ukraine over future “military cooperation” in the war-torn country.

Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, Chief of the Defence Staff, and Col. Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi discussed “the possibilities of development of Ukrainian-British military cooperation for the protection of Ukraine and strengthening of Europe’s security.”

It comes as Sir Keir Starmer prepares to travel to Washington today to convince Donald Trump to back Europe’s plans for peace in Ukraine, including European peacekeepers supported by a US “backstop”.

Ukraine last night agreed to the US-proposed rare minerals deal after Mr Trump backed down on his most extreme demands over the pact that will see Kyiv hand over its natural resources to repay the US for its military aid.

Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s president, is set to sign the deal in Washington as early as this Friday, bringing to an end a weeks-long heated dispute with the US president.