US Vice-President JD Vance has begun his UK holiday with a visit to David Lammy’s country retreat amid turmoil around the situation in Palestine.
The Foreign Secretary said he would be discussing the “developing situation in Gaza” and the ongoing war in Ukraine with JD Vance.
Mr Lammy said: “Of course we will be discussing the developing situation in Gaza, which is a great concern, and of course the ongoing war in Ukraine, and the desire to see that come to an end.”
Mr Vance ruled out the US recognising a Palestinian state after the UK announced it could do so in the coming months.
The Vice President arrived on Friday morning with his wife and three children to meet the Foreign Secretary at Chevening House near Sevenoaks in Kent.
They were spotted carp fishing in a pond near the 17th-century house.
The two fished together at Chevening (REUTERS)
The pair are said to have developed a warm friendship, bonding over their difficult childhoods and Christian faith.
Their meeting comes amid significant shifts in the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.
Earlier today, the Prime Minister condemned Israel’s plan to take control of Gaza city after almost two years of conflict.
Sir Keir Starmer said the move would “only bring more bloodshed”.
“The IDF will prepare to take control of Gaza City while providing humanitarian aid to the civilian population outside the combat zones,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement, referring to the Israeli Defence Forces.
The move was swiftly criticised by the UK.
“The Israeli Government’s decision to further escalate its offensive in Gaza is wrong, and we urge it to reconsider immediately”, Sir Keir said.
“This action will do nothing to bring an end to this conflict or to help secure the release of the hostages. It will only bring more bloodshed.”
He added: “Every day the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens and hostages taken by Hamas are being held in appalling and inhuman conditions.
“What we need is a ceasefire, a surge in humanitarian aid, the release of all hostages by Hamas and a negotiated solution. Hamas can play no part in the future of Gaza and must leave as well as disarm.”
The Prime Minister has said that Britain will recognise a Palestinian state in September unless Israel meets four conditions including ending the “starvation” in Gaza, a ceasefire, and moves towards a two-state solution.
Meanwhile, Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk raised hopes of a “freeze” in the Ukraine war.
He voiced the optimism as preparations were underway for a summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin to discuss a ceasefire in the conflict.
The talks, which come after Trump shortened a deadline for Russia to act with the threat of more sanctions, could be followed by a three-way meeting involved the US president, Russian leader and Volodymyr Zelensky.
After speaking to the Ukrainian president, Mr Tusk said: “There are certain signals, and we also have an intuition, that perhaps a freeze in the conflict – I don’t want to say the end, but a freeze in the conflict – is closer than it is further away,” he told a news conference
“There are hopes for this.”
He added that Mr Zelensky was “very cautious but optimistic” and that Ukraine was keen that Poland and other European countries play a role in planning for a ceasefire and an eventual peace settlement.