LONDON

Talks between US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin are “first steps” towards a peace process potentially leading to “serious negotiations” involving Ukraine, according to Britain’s defense secretary.

Speaking to Times Radio on Friday, John Healey said the upcoming meeting between the US and Russian leaders in Alaska – and the possibility of a joint press conference – was not a “reward” for the Kremlin.

"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," he said.

Putin and Trump are set to meet in the US state of Alaska later Friday in a bid to find common ground to end the war in Ukraine, which began in February 2022.

On what Trump brings to the talks, Healey said he is playing a 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.”

Asked if the US president’s approach means the UK needs to change its stance towards Russia, Healey said: "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.”

He added: "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 jeopardize the peace by forgetting about the war."

He added that as the talks get underway, the “pressure and the focus” must remain on Putin.