Defence secretary John Healey heads to Washington
The UK’s diplomatic efforts to secure peace in Ukraine continue as Defence Secretary John Healey travels to Washington on Wednesday, following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s declaration that he is “ready” to work with US President Donald Trump.
Mr Zelensky stressed that it was “time to make things right” with Mr Trump, with further discussions on a potential peace agreement set to take place when Mr Healey meets his US counterpart, Pete Hegseth, on Thursday.
Amid ongoing speculation regarding US-Ukraine relations, reports on Tuesday suggested that the long-anticipated minerals deal between Kyiv and Washington could be back on the table. Sources indicated that President Trump wished to announce the agreement during his key address to Congress. However, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent later refuted these claims, with a Fox News correspondent reporting that there was “no signing” planned.
Mr Healey’s visit was confirmed last week, shortly after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced an increase in the UK’s defence spending to 2.5% of GDP. The trip also comes just days after the US temporarily halted military aid to Kyiv, raising concerns about ongoing support for Ukraine’s defence efforts.
Diplomatic activity intensified on Tuesday, with Sir Keir speaking to Mr Zelensky once again ahead of his social media post. In their conversation, the Prime Minister underscored the necessity of all parties working towards a sustainable peace. This followed a separate call between Sir Keir and President Trump on Monday.
Mr Zelensky took to X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, stating that Ukraine was “ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible” to broker a peace deal.
Tensions between Trump and Zelensky
Relations between the US and Ukraine appeared to be severely strained last week following a tense exchange between Mr Trump and Mr Zelensky at the White House. The Ukrainian leader advocated for a “truce in the sky” and a “truce in the sea,” provided that Russia reciprocated. He later described the White House confrontation as “regrettable.”
Speaking about the meeting, Mr Zelensky said:
“Our meeting in Washington, at the White House on Friday, did not go the way it was supposed to be. It is regrettable that it happened this way. It is time to make things right. We would like future cooperation and communication to be constructive.”
Regarding the minerals and security agreement, he added:
“Ukraine is ready to sign it at any time and in any convenient format. We see this agreement as a step toward greater security and solid security guarantees, and I truly hope it will work effectively.”
UK’s continued commitment to Ukraine
Following their conversation, Sir Keir praised Mr Zelensky’s dedication to securing peace, reaffirming the UK’s commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and stability. A Downing Street spokesperson provided a summary of the call, stating:
“The Prime Minister updated on his discussion with President Trump last night. It was vital that all parties worked towards a lasting and secure peace for Ukraine as soon as possible, the Prime Minister added.
“Turning to President Zelensky’s most recent calls for further diplomatic efforts to achieve the swiftest possible end to the war, the Prime Minister welcomed President Zelensky’s steadfast commitment to securing peace.
“Underscoring that any peace for Ukraine needed to be lasting and secure, the Prime Minister said no one wanted peace more than Ukraine.
“The leaders agreed to stay in close touch in the coming days.”
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Defence secretary to strengthen US-UK ties
Ahead of his visit, Mr Healey reaffirmed the significance of the “special relationship” between the UK and the US. He emphasised the importance of Europe taking greater responsibility for its security.
“It is crucial that the UK and Europe step up further to take more responsibility for our security, and we are doing so,” he said.
“In the face of increasing global threats, we are cementing our ties as NATO allies, bolstering our national security and economic security, too.
“The Prime Minister was clear following his meetings over the past week that we will continue our dialogue with friends and allies to secure a path to a lasting peace in Ukraine.
“We will advance that work in Washington over the coming days.”
Trump to address congress
Meanwhile, President Trump is set to address Congress in the early hours of Thursday (UK time), with his speech expected to cover his administration’s first weeks in office, including policies on Ukraine and the Middle East conflicts.
As diplomatic efforts intensify, the coming days could prove pivotal in shaping the next phase of international engagement with Ukraine and determining the level of Western support Kyiv can expect in the months ahead.
