Donald Trump has opened the door to a possible US-UK trade deal without tariffs after a meeting with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

As part of a European charm offensive launched to secure a lasting peace in Ukraine, following on from Emmanuel Macron’s own trip on Monday, Sir Keir met the US president at the White House yesterday.

It comes ahead of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s own visit to Washington today.

During the meeting and a subsequent news conference, the two world leaders exchanged warm words – Mr Trump described Sir Keir as a “special man” and a “great gentleman”, while the British PM praised the US leader for “changing the conversation” on Ukraine.

‘Tough negotiator’

The Republican president has slapped tariffs on a number of countries in the early weeks of his first term, including using them to pressure allies into action.

But he hinted the UK could avoid that fate.

Mr Trump said he thought the UK and US could end up with a “real trade deal” without tariffs and called Sir Keir a “tough negotiator” who had tried to persuade him not to impose trade tariffs on the UK.

“He was working hard, I’ll tell you that,” the president added.

“He earned whatever the hell they pay him over there, but he tried.

“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.”

Trump’s ‘great warm spot’

The surprisingly positive meeting followed recent weeks in which it appeared the transatlantic relationship had come under strain, following Mr Trump’s intervention to try to bring about the end of the war in Ukraine.

Mr Trump spoke about the UK, saying: “I have investments there, I own Turnberry, I own Aberdeen, and I own a great place called Doonbeg in Ireland [Ireland isn’t in the UK].

“So, I have a great warm spot for your country.”

Ukraine, Chagos and a royal invite

The key reason for the visit was to try to bring about a sustainable peace in Ukraine.

Mr Starmer followed Mr Macron into the Oval Office in an effort to win over Mr Trump after his administration held unilateral talks with Russia last week, without Ukraine, in a move that set off sirens throughout Europe’s capitals.

However, Mr Trump offered no security guarantees during the meeting with Sir Keir and the two leaders struck different tones.

While Mr Trump said “if it [a peace deal] doesn’t happen quickly, it may not happen at all”, Sir Keir said “history must be on the side of the peacemaker, not the invader.”

The actions of Sir Keir and Mr Macron reflected a continent jolted into action.

Sir Keir recently announced a historic hike to defence spending as well – something Mr Trump has previously called for.

Mr Zelenskyy is making the same trip to the US where he will sit down and thrash out a possible deal on critical minerals in Ukraine.

The economic deal has proven a crucial precursor of any potential peace agreement.

Mr Trump has said it would see American workers in Ukraine – something that would act as an effective backstop to any peacekeeping forces there, he claimed.

On the Chagos Islands deal, over which some have criticised Mr Starmer, Mr Trump said the plan to give up sovereignty and lease back the US-UK base would “work out well”.

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Before talks between the two sides, Sir Keir produced, with a flourish, a letter from the King written to Mr Trump, inviting him for an “unprecedented” second state visit.

The letter, marked “private and confidential”, invited the royal-loving president to the UK, with talks ahead of the formal state visit to discuss logistics and a potential programme.

Wow. That was a lot.

I had two tactics going in: one – smile at Donald Trump, try to catch his eye because then he might ask you for a question, and I did get called.

And two, wear something bright so he sees you in the sea of grey. Well, that worked.

The colourful approach also really worked for Sir Keir Starmer, who produced a letter from the King inviting Trump for a second state visit.

The US president genuinely seemed utterly delighted.

He loves the Royal Family, so this was really some smart diplomacy from the prime minister.

Starmer will be so happy with how that went off, because there were lots of potential landmines on certain areas.

Mr Trump was charming. He did not get into it with the prime minister on the issue of the Chagos Islands and that deal – he was pretty nice about that. And he did not say anything controversial.

On tariffs, the president chose to really lay into the European Union and did not really go to town on tariffs when it comes to the UK.

On Ukraine, he was asked about a peace deal. He thinks it’s going to happen. He was asked about security guarantees. He said: “We’re going to get the deal, and then we’re going to work all of that stuff out.”

When he was asked about whether he would back up UK troops if necessary – well, he did not say no.

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Overall, it was a pretty good outing for Starmer and the atmospherics were good.

But blimey – Trump, it is free-flowing. I’ve never been into the Oval Office and had a situation where a president would answer so many questions from journalists.

In the past with President Biden, it was all very ordered and certain people got to ask questions.

Here, it really is free-flowing. It was quite an intense session.

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 Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

Here is what we have been able to make out from the 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.”

After reading the letter Mr Trump said: “That’s a great, great honour. And that says at Windsor – that’s really something.”

Mr Trump, the first ever convicted felon to become US president, accepted the invitation from the King – making him the only elected political leader in modern times to be invited to two state visits by a British monarch.

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

Questions remain as to what form the state visit will take, who would accompany Mr Trump in his presidential party and whether this could include his close ally, billionaire businessman Elon Musk who is acting as his senior adviser on federal spending.

Mr Trump’s first UK state visit took place during his initial term as president – when he was hosted by the late Queen in 2019.

Precedent for second-term US presidents who have already made a state visit is usually tea or lunch with the monarch at Windsor Castle, as was the case for George W Bush and Barack Obama.

President Trump has earlier separately said he would be visiting the UK in the “near future”.

The Royal Family’s soft power diplomacy is viewed as a way of engaging with the controversial billionaire-turned-politician, who is well known for his love of the monarchy.

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A stay at Balmoral in the Scottish Highlands could be seen as appealing to Mr Trump’s heritage – his mother Mary Anne was born on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides and he has two golf resorts in the country.

Buckingham Palace’s ongoing £369m refurbishment is focusing on its grandest state rooms, meaning it is unlikely to host any state visits for the next two years.

Balmoral – the turreted grey stone castle by the River Dee – is the King’s private Scottish home which has served as a summer sanctuary for generations of monarchs since it was bought for Queen Victoria by Prince Albert in 1852.

The only other US president to stay at Balmoral was Dwight D Eisenhower in the summer of 1959, but it was an informal trip rather than a state visit.

Mr Eisenhower had an affectionate relationship with the late Queen, who made a last minute decision to drive down to Balmoral’s Lodge Gate to personally greet her guest when he inspected a guard of honour.