The UK remains “absolutely committed” to peace in Ukraine and is “engaging with key allies,” the government has said after President Donald Trump halted U.S. military aid to the country.
The White House has suspended delivery of ammunition and other equipment to Kyiv after announcing overnight that it is “reviewing” its assistance to “ensure that it is contributing to a solution.”
It comes after a clash in the Oval Office between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the U.S. president last Friday.
Allies led by Britain and France have spent recent days attempting to find a way forward following the row, which ended with Zelenskyy leaving the White House empty-handed despite plans to sign a minerals deal with the United States.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s own trip to Washington last week appeared to have gone as well as Number 10 could have hoped, with Trump indicating he would not block the Chagos Islands deal and suggesting a trade agreement could spare British exports from U.S. tariffs.
He is seeking to act as a bridge between America and Europe in efforts to broker a cease-fire in Ukraine.
Following the suspension of U.S. aid on Monday, a UK government spokeswoman said “key allies” are being engaged with as Britain seeks to secure a lasting peace.
“We remain absolutely committed to securing a lasting peace in Ukraine and are engaging with key allies in support of this effort. It is the right thing to do, and is in our interest to do so,” she said.
“We have bolstered Ukrainian military capabilities through our commitment to provide Ukraine with £3 billion a year in military aid for as long as it takes and through a £2.26 billion loan using sanctioned Russian assets.
“In addition, we’ve set up a partnership with Ukraine that allows them to use £1.6 billion of UK export finance to buy 5,000 air defence missiles manufactured in Belfast, putting Ukraine in the strongest possible position for peace.”
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said Starmer remains “laser-focused” on Ukraine and will not be “derailed” by announcements from the White House.
She denied the government is acting as if it is “business as usual,” telling BBC Radio 4’s “Today” programme, “It’s a very serious moment and I think the prime minister has been very serious about the way he has conducted himself.”
Rayner added: “He’s laser-focused on getting peace.
“He won’t be derailed by announcements. He will continue that dialogue with our oldest and strongest ally, the U.S., and with European partners and with Ukraine.”
Asked how the government should handle Trump, she said: “I think if you look at how the president went, the correspondence and the way in which that meeting went with the prime minister, you’ll have seen the warmth there.
“You’ll have seen the opportunities for a trade deal, you’ll have seen the president say about the Chagos deal—there was lots of dialogue there that was constructive.
“The prime minister continues to speak to President Trump.”
Earlier on Tuesday, U.S. Vice President JD Vance also heightened his criticism of the Ukrainian president, accusing him of “needling” Trump and having a “certain sense of entitlement.”
“He showed a clear unwillingness to engage in the peace process that President Trump said is the policy,” he told Fox News.
“That’s the real breakdown. I think Zelenskyy wasn’t yet there. And, frankly, still isn’t there. But I think he’ll get there eventually, he has to.”
Vance said Ukrainian officials have made at least one attempt to restart negotiations after leaving the White House, but their efforts were shut down by the president.
He claimed the “door is open” as long as “Zelenskyy is willing to seriously talk peace.”
Over the weekend, Zelenskyy told reporters he is prepared to stand down in exchange for NATO membership, and suggested he is ready to sign the minerals deal with the United States.
He has also repeatedly emphasised his gratitude towards Washington for the support it has given to Ukraine after Vance told him he should “offer some words of appreciation.”
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said the UK and Europe must “rearm faster” following the U.S. announcement.
She said: “The news overnight that America is halting military aid to Ukraine is profoundly worrying.
“It is clear that Britain and Europe must rearm much faster if we want to provide Ukraine with more than just warm words of support.
“We must work to keep America in, and Russia out.”
