Biden says special relationship is ‘rock solid’ during crunch talks with Rishi on Ukraine before meeting King Charles

JOE Biden insisted today the UK-US relationship is “rock solid” as he arrived at No10 today.

The pair will hold talks in Downing Street before the US President’s meeting with King Charles this afternoon in Windsor.

They will then fly on to Lithuania for a NATO summit with other world leaders tomorrow to discuss Ukraine and other world issues.

It is the President’s first time in Downing Street since Rishi took over as PM, and their sixth meeting together, but it’s not a formal state visit.

On the agenda will be Mr Biden’s controversial decision to send controversial cluster bombs to Ukraine to assist the fightback against Russia.

The munitions have been banned in more than 100 countries as unexploded “bomblets” can remain on the ground and detonate years later on civilians.

Russia has also been using them in the conflict – but the UK is one of those signed up to the ban.

Previously, the White House had held off sending them to Kyiv over fears of harming the innocent.

Ukraine’s NATO membership will also be discussed, alongside the war in Russia – though the US president has said he isn’t sure they are ready to yet join the alliance.

It will take “a while” for Ukraine to become a full member of the club, he admitted – despite UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace calling for it to be fast-tracked thanks to the war.

Later today, Biden will have an a meeting with the King, where the pair will chat about the environment and climate.

President Biden arrived in London late last night as he stopped over in the UK on his way out to Europe.

He was greeted on the runway last night, after disembarking Air Force One, by Jennifer Tolhurst, Lord-Lieutenant of Essex, and Jane Hartley, US Ambassador to the United Kingdom.