UK Defence Secretary sends warning to Donald Trump on Ukraine after ‘nice’ Putin cellphone name
UK Defence Secretary John Healey has sent a warning to Donald Trump that there “can be no negotiation about Ukraine without Ukraine”.
John Healey, who spoke to to the BBC as Nato defence ministers met in Brussels this morning, said Russia remains a threat “well beyond Ukraine”. It comes after the US President last night shocked the world after announcing that he and Vladimir Putin had agreed to start negotiations on ending the war in Ukraine.
Responding to Mr Trump’s comments, Mr Healey said Nato’s job is to “put Ukraine in strongest possible position for any talks”. The Defence Secretary said: “We’ve seen the calls from President Trump overnight and we all want to see a durable peace and no return to conflict and aggression – and let’s not forget, Russia remains a threat well beyond Ukraine.
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AP)
“So my message in these discussions will be that there can be no negotiation about Ukraine without Ukraine and Ukraine’s voice must be at the heart of any talks. Ukrainians are fighting bravely. It’s our jobs. It’s our job as defence ministers here at Nato, to put them in the best position to secure a lasting peace through strength.”
The US has suggested that as part of a peace deal Ukraine must accept it will have to give up some territory to Russia and Nato membership is not a realistic prospect. But Nato’s official position – endorsed by Keir Starmer’s Government in the UK-Ukraine 100-year partnership – is that Kyiv is on an “irreversible” path to joining the alliance.
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PA Wire)
In a clip to camera last night, Mr Trump said he had agreed with Russia’s leader to “work together, very closely” on bringing the three-year conflict to an end in phone conversation that lasted more than an hour on Wednesday. He said he had a “great” call with Putin last night and said we “are on the way to peace”.
Mr Trump said he had also spoke to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky but added that he’ll be dealing with President Putin “largely”. He said both men, as well as himself want peace. “We want to end that war,” he added. “That war is a disaster.”
Last Deputy PM Angela Rayner said Britain’s support for Ukraine remains “steadfast” against Russia. Speaking to ITV’s Peston, the Deputy Prime Minister said the Government and “the whole of Parliament” were united in support for Kyiv, when asked about the US president’s claims. “We’ll continue to support Ukraine, and… the Prime Minister was very clear when he answered that question earlier today in the House,” she added.
