The UK has issued a warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin as he prepares for a face-to-face summit with US President Donald Trump at a remote military base in Alaska. The meeting comes as European allies and the White House push for a ceasefire in the Ukraine conflict.
Speaking just hours before the talks, UK Defence Secretary John Healey told Times Radio that Britain is prepared 'to step up diplomatic and economic pressure' if Putin fails to act. He said: 'The pressure now is on Putin to prove he wants peace. Today is a test of that.' Healey added that the Government is leading military planning for a possible ceasefire and supplying military aid to Ukraine.
The US President and Russian leader are set to meet this evening UK time, with the White House calling for a 'peaceful resolution' to the three-year conflict. However, Ukraine is excluded from the talks, raising concerns among European leaders that Kyiv could be sidelined in ceasefire negotiations.
Mr Healey emphasised that the Ukrainians must determine the terms of any end to the fighting. He told BBC Breakfast: 'The first lesson is that military and fighting solves nothing in the end... talking must come through diplomacy.' He dismissed suggestions that Britain's role was to 'watch and wait', stating the UK is leading the 'Coalition of the Willing' with 30 other nations on military planning.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky at Downing Street in a show of support. A Downing Street spokesman confirmed the meeting discussed calls with EU leaders and Mr Trump.
