Cluster bombs and Ukraine Nato bid among potential talking points as Biden meets Sunak

The US president will meet the Prime Minister for discussions that could focus on cluster munitions and Ukraine's bid to join Nato before meeting the King.

President Biden has a layover in the UK before travelling to the Nato summit in Lithuania.

The president will first meet Rishi Sunak in Downing Street on Monday morning after defending the "difficult" decision to send cluster munitions to Kyiv.

• Nato allies 'uncomfortable' with US plans to send Ukraine cluster bombs
• UK will not supply cluster munitions to Ukraine, says Sunak
• Proper first aid could likely have stopped up to 50% of Russian frontline deaths, MOD reports

Mr Sunak responded by saying Britain "discourages" their use as one of 123 signatories of a convention banning the bombs, but No 10 would not say whether he will raise the issue.

Cluster munitions are a weapon designed to disperse smaller bombs over a large area. 

A former senior diplomat says Nato allies arming Ukraine are "uncomfortable" with American plans to send cluster bombs to Ukraine.

The White House said the pair will "compare notes" on the Ukrainian counter-offensive as it makes slow but steady progress in driving out the Russian forces.

Although all allies at the summit in Vilnius on Tuesday agree that Ukraine cannot join during the war, a move which would pull the wider West into direct conflict with Russia, the US is seen as most hesitant over its membership.

Mr Biden has described Kyiv’s bid as "premature", telling CNN: "I don't think it's ready for membership in Nato."

Britain, on the other hand, has indicated support for a fast-track approach for Ukraine.