Ukraine must be at heart of talks, says Healey

There can be no negotiation "about Ukraine without Ukraine", the UK's defence secretary has warned.

John Healey's comments ahead of a Nato meeting of defence ministers in Brussels on Thursday come after US President Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin agreed to begin negotiations to end the war.

Speaking to reporters, Healey said: "We've seen the calls from President Trump overnight and we all want to see a durable peace and no return to conflict."

But he added that Russia "remains a threat well beyond Ukraine".

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he and the Russian president had "agreed to have our respective teams start negotiations immediately".

He did not set a date for a face-to-face meeting with Putin, but later told reporters at the White House: "We'll meet in Saudi Arabia." He wrote on social media the pair had also invited each other to their respective capitals.

On Wednesday, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said European nations must provide the "overwhelming" share of funding for Ukraine.

Healey said the UK had "heard a clear message from the US about stepping up and we are", pointing out a new £150m package of military aid including drones, tanks and air defence systems for Ukraine.

He told reporters ahead of the meeting that "my message... Will be that there can be no negotiation about Ukraine without Ukraine".

"The Ukrainians are fighting bravely," said Healey. "Its our jobs as defence ministers here at NATO to put them in the best position to secure a lasting peace through strength."