Burak Bir
24 October 2026•Update: 24 October 2026
US President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Andy Burnham spoke by phone on Friday about the Russia-Ukraine war, the situation in the Middle East, and bilateral ties.
Burnham underlined the importance of Ukraine having "full access" to Starlink satellite technology so it can keep defending itself against Russian attacks, his office said in a statement.
He also recognized Trump’s work to "bring (Russian President Vladimir) Putin to the negotiation table," and the leaders agreed to work together, alongside international partners, to bring an end to the war, now approaching its sixth year.
Turning to energy, the pair welcomed continued collaboration between UK and US companies, especially on nuclear power.
"The two leaders discussed the Energy Secretary’s (Miatta Fahnbulleh) decision to approve Jackdaw (gas field). The leaders agreed on the significant benefits this will bring to the UK, boosting the economy and supporting jobs for British workers," it added.
Earlier this week, the UK government re-approved the controversial Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea following years of legal challenges about its climate effects, with the project expected to begin supplying gas to the country by the end of this month.
The leaders also discussed the Sea Lion project, a major deepwater offshore oil development located about 220 kilometers (137 miles) north of the Falkland Islands – known in Argentina as the Islas Malvinas – in the North Falkland Basin.
"The Prime Minister raised the economic consequences of Argentina’s coercive measures for the UK and US and reiterated the importance of respecting the Islanders’ right to develop their natural resources," according to the statement.
On the Middle East, Burnham reaffirmed the UK’s support for Saudi Arabia in the face of "hostile Houthi attacks" amid escalation between Riyadh and the Houthi group since July, with renewed fighting between the Houthis and Yemen’s internationally recognized government.
Saudi Arabia has led a military coalition supporting Yemen’s government against the Houthis since 2015.
The group has controlled the capital Sanaa and other parts of Yemen since 2014.
