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Keir Starmer could head for the White House with Volodymyr Zelensky in a desperate bid to save Western alliances.

The PM is said to be ready to make the trip with the Ukrainian president and Emmanuel Macron as they try to keep Donald Trump on side.

The leaders could present a potential blueprint for peace with Russia , including an initial air and sea ceasefire, UK and French troops on the ground to guarantee security, and an American backstop.

Downing Street sources stressed nothing had been finalised, but Paris confirmed the prospect is on the table.

Defence Secretary John Healey is due in the Washington later for talks with counterparts.

The US president struck a slightly more positive tone in a speech to Congress overnight after Mr Zelensky sent him a pleading letter in the wake of the their Oval Office bust-up.

Mr Trump said he 'appreciated' the message , adding he wants to sign a deal for US companies to extract rare earth minerals from Ukraine. He also claimed Vladimir Putin had sent 'strong signals' he wants peace.

But Mr Trump stopped short of making any firm commitments, after dramatically announcing that all military aid was being suspended.

That sparked panic in Europe amid fears that Kyiv could not hold out long against Russia without American arms.

In a marathon 100-minute speech Trump also said Volodymyr Zelensky had written to him following their recent Oval Office showdown, and that the Ukrainian leader was ready to return to the negotiating table.

He accused European countries of spending more money on Russian oil than helping Ukraine, and blamed predecessor Joe Biden for a list of problems facing America and the world.

Trump also reupped his plans to take over the Panama Canal, but appeared to change his tune on the U.S. buying Greenland by insisting its fate was up to the people who live there.

As Trump capped off his whirlwind first six weeks in the White House , Democrats heckled him and accused him of 'lying'.

The U.S.-Ukraine relationship had been on the brink of collapse after Trump's angry meeting with Zelensky last Friday, and the US President's subsequent decision to pause military aid to Ukraine.

The dust-up also risked killing off a deal that the US and Ukraine were supposed to sign on rare earth minerals.

In his speech to Congress, Mr Trump said he was skeptical of America sending 'billions of dollars' to Kyiv and asked if Democrats wanted the war to 'keep going for another five years'.

'Wouldn't that be beautiful?' Trump said sarcastically. 'It's time to stop this madness. It's time to halt the killing. It's time to end this senseless war. If you want to end wars you have to talk to both sides.'

Trump said he had been in 'serious discussions with Russia' and had 'received strong signals that they are ready for peace.'

He went on: 'I received an important letter from President Zelensky of Ukraine.'

Trump then revealed that Zelensky's letter said: 'Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than the Ukrainians. Regarding the agreement on minerals and security, Ukraine is ready to sign it at any time that is convenient for you.'

Trump said: 'I appreciate that he sent this letter, just got it a little while ago.'

Turning his fire on Europe, Mr Trump said: 'Europe has sadly spent more money buying Russian oil and gas than they have spent on defending Ukraine by far.'

Sir Keir and Mr Macron took the lead on peace negotiations after Mr Trump and Mr Zelensky's spectacular Oval Office blowup.

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