UK Defence Secretary John Healey is set to fly to Washington on Wednesday for a two-day trip, where he will meet his US counterpart, Pete Hegseth, following the Trump administration’s shocking decision to halt all military aid to Ukraine.
During his visit, Healey will review emerging peace proposals discussed by European leaders in London, but it’s unclear whether he will push for a reversal of the military aid freeze, which appears to have taken the UK by surprise.
In a statement ahead of the trip, Healey said, “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.”
The meeting between Healey and Hegseth on Thursday will be the first time senior members of the two administrations have met since the White House’s stern rebuke of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Trump’s controversial decision to cut off military assistance.
While UK Labour leader Keir Starmer expressed confidence that the US wouldn’t cut military aid to Ukraine, news broke late on Monday that President Donald Trump had indeed taken this step after a White House meeting involving Hegseth and other key officials.
Downing Street has downplayed suggestions that they were blindsided by Trump’s move. A spokesperson noted that discussions between the US and UK are ongoing, with both countries aiming for peace in Ukraine. Defence sources confirmed that Healey’s visit had been planned prior to Trump’s decision, and it wasn’t a direct response to the news.
The Ministry of Defence briefed that Healey and Hegseth would discuss plans for peace in Ukraine, which are being worked on by the US, UK, France, and other allies. The talks will also cover other defence issues, including countering Islamic State activity in the Middle East.
The UK, along with France, is keen for the US to provide a military “backstop” to peace proposals being developed with Ukraine, following talks with President Zelenskyy and French President Emmanuel Macron. However, UK officials have expressed frustration at the lack of concrete US military backing for these efforts.
Despite attempts by Starmer to convince Trump to support peace in Ukraine during their White House meeting last week, tensions between the US and Ukraine have only escalated following Trump’s public criticism of Zelenskyy. Starmer has continued to stay in close contact with both leaders, acting as an intermediary in the ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy called for a “truce in the sky” on Tuesday, urging a ban on missiles, drones, and attacks on civilian infrastructure, including energy facilities. He also proposed a ceasefire at sea if Russia agreed to the same.
While Starmer won’t be attending a special EU summit on Thursday to discuss continued support for Ukraine, he will join a broader call with European leaders on Friday.
