PARIS — The British Secretary of Defense has asserted that former President Donald Trump possesses the ability to engage Russian President Vladimir Putin in peace negotiations concerning Ukraine, even as current discussions remain stalled.
In an interview, John Healey was asked by POLITICO whether achieving a ceasefire in Ukraine would be more challenging than in Gaza. He indicated that such a comparison was inappropriate, with the exception of one key point.
“President Trump is the figure that can bring Putin to the table, that can potentially deliver an end to the fighting,”
he remarked, speaking during a flight from Norway to Paris, where he was en route to meet with the newly appointed French defense minister. Healey noted that Trump had previously played a significant role in negotiating a tenuous ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Coalition efforts for peace
Healey emphasized the ongoing efforts of the coalition of allies supporting Ukraine, which is committed to providing security in the event of a ceasefire. He stated that these efforts are being “regularly refreshed,” ensuring that the coalition is prepared to step in and assist when peace is finally achieved.
The coalition’s headquarters is now operational in Paris, incorporating senior military personnel from the UK among its ranks. Healey’s comments followed a meeting of the Joint Expeditionary Force in Bodø, where the group established a new partnership with Ukraine.
Tensions escalate between the U.S. and Russia
Despite these diplomatic efforts, Putin has remained unyielding since a planned meeting with Trump in Hungary was called off, coinciding with the U.S. administration’s decision to impose sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies. The relationship between the U.S. and Russia has since deteriorated, with both nations escalating threats to resume nuclear weapons testing.
In a recent meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump stated that both nations are collaborating to find a resolution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, although he noted, “sometimes, you have to let them fight.”