All eyes have been on Sir Keir Starmer as he held the most consequential news conference of his premiership so far.

By Donald Trump’s own admission, Sir Keir’s first trip to Washington as prime minister got off to an “outstanding start”.

The love-in between the prime minister and the US president continued on stage, as they heaped praise on each other and paid tribute to the special relationship.

Here Sky News takes you through the key moments from the conference.

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Ukraine deal still in the balance

Sir Keir’s defining mission on this trip has been to try and persuade Mr Trump to provide a security guarantee for Ukraine in any peace deal reached with Russia, so that Vladimir Putin does not invade its neighbour again following an initial ceasefire.

It appears that no such deal has yet been reached – but the US president did say the White House was “working towards a very achievable ceasefire in Ukraine”.

“If you want peace, you have to talk both sides,” he said – which has not been the approach of the international community. “The next step we are making is toward a very achievable ceasefire.”

However, in language that may sound alarm in Kyiv, Mr Trump said: “If it doesn’t happen quickly, it may not happen at all.”

That statement may spark fear that the US president would be prepared to do a deal at any cost which would favour Vladimir Putin at the expense of Ukraine.

By contrast, Sir Keir struck a different tone and said: “History must be on the side of the peacemaker, not the invader.”

‘Very good chance’ of trade deal – and maybe no tariffs?

The main news takeaway from the conference was about trade.

Sir Keir has been at pains to charm Mr Trump into striking a good trade deal with the UK, following the wilderness years under former president Barack Obama when the UK was famously “at the back of the queue”.

As part of that, the prime minister is hoping the US will not impose punitive tariffs on the UK, as it minded to do with close neighbour Canada – because any such move would make his mission to grow the economy nigh on impossible.

Asked if Sir Keir had convinced him not to impose trade tariffs on the UK, Mr Trump said to laughter: “He tried.”

“He was working hard, I’ll tell you that,” he joked. “He earned whatever the hell they pay him over there, but he tried.”

He added: “I think there’s a very good chance that in the case of these two great, friendly countries, I think we could very well end up with a real trade deal where the tariffs wouldn’t be necessary. We’ll see.”

Talking of Canada…

Uh oh, Canada

Sir Keir was asked about the president’s recent comments about wanting to make Canada the 51st US state.

The prime minister gave the question short shrift, saying: “I think you’re trying to find a divide between us that simply doesn’t exist.

“We’re the closest of nations, and we had very good discussions today, but we didn’t discuss Canada.”

‘What a beautiful accent’

More praise came when Sir Keir said the UK was “ready to put boots on the ground and planes in the air” to support a deal on Ukraine working with allies.

“That is the only way peace will last,” he added

As he wrapped up his speech, Mr Trump remarked: “What a beautiful accent.

“I would have been president 20 years ago if I had that accent.”

Read more:
Inside the Oval Office with Donald Trump and Keir Starmer
What does the King’s letter to Trump say?

In it to win it

Throughout the conference, Sir Keir spoke in language that at times felt alien to his personality – he spoke in Trump rhetoric and appealed to his competitive spirit.

“We believe it’s not taking part that counts,” he said.

“What counts is winning. If you don’t win, you don’t deliver.

“We’re both in a hurry to get things done. And that’s what the UK and US do – when we work together, we win and we get things done.”

With Donald Trump, it’s all about relationships.

Going into this bilateral summit, those around Sir Keir Starmer were stressing that these guys genuinely got on well, they liked each other, and that the prime minister could say things to Mr Trump in private and not get his head blown off.

What we saw today was a genuine rapport between the two men, and Mr Trump seems amenable to Sir Keir.

Number 10 will have thought that this could not have gone better.

Politics latest: Trump tells Starmer UK may get ‘great’ trade deal

One key element for the UK side was convincing Mr Trump to give security guarantees for Ukraine in any kind of peace deal with Russia, but he didn’t really bite on that topic.

Nonetheless, Sir Keir will have plenty to discuss with European leaders at the big London summit on Sunday.

The big story that emerged out of the press conference was, however, about trade.

Mr Trump has been threatening allies around the world with tariffs.

Read more:
Top moments from Trump and Starmer’s press conference
Inside the Oval Office with Trump and Starmer

He didn’t completely rule out tariffs on the UK, but he did say that what he wanted to do was a trade deal where maybe this could be avoided.

That would be a huge win for a prime minister who did not necessarily think he would come out with that, and also for a UK government that really needs to strengthen trade ties with the US because they’re looking for economic growth.

Whether they can agree on things such as food standards and NHS access is not so clear.

But Sir Keir will be pleased with how well this played out today.

Usually, correspondence written by the King is not made public, but Donald Trump held up the letter in the Oval Office.

The letter, which was inviting him to the UK for a historic second state visit, was handed to him by UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

Here is what we are able to make out from photos.

In the opening paragraph, the King references the “breadth of challenges across the world”, and says the UK and the US have “a vital role to play”.

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He goes on to say that he remembers “with great fondness” Mr Trump’s visits to the UK during his “previous presidency”.

The King mentions Mr Trump visiting the golf course the US president owns in Turnberry and then appears to suggest a visit to Balmoral or Dumfries House in Scotland at some stage – estates owned or run by the monarch.

He writes: “There is much on both Estates which I think you might find interesting and enjoy – particularly as my Foundation at Dumfries House provides hospitality skills-training for young people who often end up as staff in your own establishments!

“Quite apart from this presenting an opportunity to discuss a wide range of issues of mutual interest, it would also offer a valuable chance to plan a historic second State Visit to the United Kingdom.

“As you will know, this is unprecedented by a US president. That is why I would find it helpful for us to be able to discuss, together, a range of options for location and programme content.

“In so doing, working together, I know we will further enhance the special relationship between our two countries, of which we are both so proud.”

Sky News has contacted Buckingham Palace to ask when the second state visit might take place, and they said: “When diaries allow.”

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