On Thursday, in Washington, a meeting will take place between US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and his British counterpart John Healey. The topic of discussion will be a peace plan for Ukraine. “We will continue this work in Washington in the coming days,” Healey announced.
Reuters notes that the visit of the British Defense Minister comes at a time when European leaders are racing to develop a peace plan to present to Washington. This follows President Donald Trump’s decision on Monday to suspend military aid to Kyiv after a heated discussion last week at the White House with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
After weekend meetings with world leaders, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that he would continue discussions with friends and allies to secure a path to lasting peace. Last week, he was in Washington to discuss with President Donald Trump the issue of ensuring “a safe and lasting peace in Ukraine.”
Upon returning to London, Starmer hosted European leaders, including Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron.
“While most leaders did not provide details, Macron said the plan would include a month-long ceasefire covering air and naval attacks. However, on Monday, British Defense Minister Luke Pollard declined to confirm Macron’s proposal. ‘This is not a plan we currently support’,”
Reuters quotes Pollard
On Tuesday, Zelensky, seeking to improve relations with Trump, expressed gratitude for US support in the war with Russia and stated that he was ready to work under the leadership of the US president to achieve lasting peace.
Also on Tuesday, Starmer spoke by phone with the Ukrainian leader and praised his unwavering commitment to securing a peace agreement. “It is essential that all parties work towards a lasting and secure peace for Ukraine as soon as possible,” the British Prime Minister emphasized.