This is an audio transcript of the FT News Briefing podcast episode: ‘Trump greets Starmer at White House’ Marc Filippino Good morning from the Financial Times. Today is Friday, February 28th and this is your FT News Briefing.

A judge has found that the mass layoffs of probationary government employees were likely unlawful. Newsweek's live blog is closed.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived at the White House Thursday to try to convince President Donald Trump that peace in Ukraine will endure only if Kyiv and European leaders are at the negotiating table along with Moscow.

The prime minister announced the increase in defence spending days before meeting US President Donald Trump in Washington.

A U.S. ‘Backstop’ British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived at the White House on Thursday with one overarching message for U.S. President Donald Trump: U.S. military backin

He also called Zelensky "very brave". Trump was speaking after talks with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer about ending the war between Ukraine and Russia. He predicted a "very good meeting" with Zelensky on Friday,

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will visit the White House on Thursday to try and persuade President Donald Trump to maintain support for Ukraine as officials push to end the war. His visit follows French Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron's trip to see the president Monday.

President Donald Trump welcomed the British prime minister to the White House Thursday. Their meeting comes as European leaders urge the U.S. to back Ukraine in its negotiations to end the Russia-Ukraine war.

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is backing up other European leader's push to persuade President Donald Trump not to abandon Ukraine in pursuit of a peace deal in the three-year-old war with Russia during his visit to Washington Thursday.

The two leaders are due to discuss the war in Ukraine and a deal that would give the US access to its deposits of rare earth minerals.