{"text":[[{"start":6.76,"text":"Andy Burnham is set to have his first face-to-face talks with Donald Trump next month, as the UK prime minister and other European leaders seek to persuade the US president to bolster Ukraine’s air-defence missile stocks."}],[{"start":19.12,"text":"Burnham said he would attend the UN General Assembly in New York in September, but British officials are also expected to explore the possibility of a meeting at the White House, depending on Trump’s schedule."}],[{"start":30.36,"text":"Downing Street said Burnham’s travel schedule would be set out “in the usual way” but previous UK prime ministers have combined talks at the UN headquarters with a visit to the White House."}],[{"start":40.88,"text":"Number 10 declined to comment, but British officials are working through different options for a Burnham meeting with Trump, including meeting on the margins of the UN as well as a possible visit to Washington, according to people familiar with the matter."}],[{"start":54,"text":"The US embassy in London did not immediately respond to a request for comment."}],[{"start":59.28,"text":"Burnham announced his plans to visit New York after chairing a meeting of the “coalition of the willing”, a group of countries committed to helping secure any peace deal between Kyiv and Moscow, in Ukraine on Monday."}],[{"start":70.68,"text":"He said it was important that the international community step up to support Ukraine through what could be a difficult winter."}],[{"start":76.96,"text":"“I’m looking forward to going to New York in September,” Burnham told Bloomberg in Kyiv, in what would be his first trip to the US as prime minister."}],[{"start":84.64,"text":"“I’ve not fully confirmed the details yet but it’s likely I will go,” he added. “Leaving today, I’m quite clear what I need to do in the next few weeks.”"}],[{"start":94.2,"text":"Burnham said he was “really optimistic” that Ukraine’s shortage of missiles capable of bringing down Russian missiles was “fixable” if the international will was there."}],[{"start":103.28,"text":"The prime minister said there might be another meeting of the coalition of the willing on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly and he hoped to see American interceptors and stocks from other countries made available to Kyiv."}],[{"start":115.42,"text":"Burnham said: “There are other players who could help in the mix who we have influence with. It’s probably going to be a solution that involves a lot of layers and a lot of negotiation.”"}],[{"start":124.72,"text":"Trump last month said he had not decided whether he would allow Ukraine to produce Patriot surface-to-air interceptor missiles, one of Kyiv’s top priorities, telling the FT: “We’re looking at it”."}],[{"start":136.24,"text":"Burnham appeared to get his relationship with Trump off to a good start last month after he promised a “pragmatic approach” to the issue of North Sea oil and gas."}],[{"start":144.8,"text":"Although it is far from clear whether Burnham’s approach will differ much from that of Sir Keir Starmer, his predecessor, his tone was welcomed by Trump, who has strong views on fossil-fuel drilling."}],[{"start":155.84,"text":"Trump said on social media last month: “The People of Aberdeen, in Scotland, are dancing in the streets because the new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, has stated that he will be opening up, all the way, the invaluable North Sea Oil!”"}],[{"start":168.96,"text":"When asked about his conversation with Burnham, Trump said: “He said he’s going to open up North Sea oil.”"}],[{"start":175.28,"text":"Other issues likely to feature in the first talks between Burnham and Trump are Britain’s approach to free speech and its impact on US social media companies and trade."}],[{"start":184.14,"text":"Trump is also likely to test Burnham’s approach to his war in Iran. Starmer declined to let US forces use UK bases for initial attacks on Iran, creating a rift in the transatlantic relationship."}],[{"start":199.6,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1787699283_1318.mp3"}