BURSTAddressing reception marking 80th anniversary of VJ Day, prime minister says he spoke to Zelenskyy about allies’ values as Trump prepares to meet Putin
John Healey said the talks between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin were “first steps” towards a potential peace which could lead to “serious negotiations” which involve Ukraine in the future.
Asked whether Friday’s meeting between the two leaders in Alaska – and a possible joint press conference – was simply a “reward” for Putin, the defence secretary told Times Radio:
It’s a recognition that you can only end fighting by talking. And to have talking and serious negotiation, it requires someone to broker those talks.
President Trump is playing that role in a way that only President Trump can, and it’s why we and other European leaders and Ukraine have been willing to give President Trump our full support in trying to take these first steps.
Well, I think, well, first of all, we need to see what happens in the discussions today and whether they lead to serious negotiations that will properly involve Ukraine in the future.
But our first priority, is to continue to stand with Ukraine, as we have since the outset of this full scale war, to step up our support for the diplomatic pressure and the economic pressure on Putin, but also to keep a focus on the frontline while all eyes are on Alaska, because we can’t jeopardise the peace by forgetting about the war.
No, the UK’s role is to stand with Ukraine on the battlefield and in the negotiations, and prepare as we have been, leading 30 other nations with military planning for a ceasefire and a secure peace through what we call the coalition of the willing.
Our role is to lead the charge as we have been on more intensive diplomacy, to lead the charge on military aid to Ukraine so that we don’t jeopardise the peace by forgetting about the current war, and being ready also to step up economic pressure on Putin if he’s not willing to take the talks seriously.
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