Defence Secretary John Healey sent a personal message to Putin on securing peace in Ukraine during a press conference with his European counterparts in Paris today
Live: John Healey press conference following meeting with allies
Defence Secretary John Healey has warned that the defence industry must be capable of moving at “wartime pace” at a press conference with his European counterparts in France.
Mr Healey flew to Paris to meet defence chiefs from E5 countries – France, Germany, Italy and Poland – to discuss peacekeeping plans for a deterrent to stop Vladimir Putin invading again. It comes as Keir Starmer hailed a “remarkable breakthrough” after Ukraine last night accepted a US proposal for a temporary 30-day ceasefire that can be extended by mutual agreement.
During the press conference, Mr Healey sent a personal message to Russia: “I say to President Putin: Over to you now. You said you want to talk, prove it. Accept the ceasefire. Start negotiations. And end the war.” He added: “Make no mistake, the pressure is now on Putin.”
The UK minister said the five countries – the five largest defence spenders among European nations of Nato – in attendance recognised they “must take on more responsibility for European security” and ensure their defence industries can move at “wartime pace”. He said together they had agreed: “We must re-arm. We must spend more. We must work together to strengthen our industrial base.”
Mr Healey said the UK and France is accelerating its work to “drive the push for peace” and build a “Coalition of the Willing from Europe and beyond”. He continued: “Our industry must be capable of innovating at wartime pace and must make defence an engine for economic growth in each of our nations.
“It’s our job as defence ministers to keep our country safe, and in the coming weeks, you’ll see European allies coming ever closer together, because our security is shared and our strength relies on that unwavering commitment to each other. Peace and stability in Europe will only be achieved through strengthening NATO and standing with Ukraine.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was involved in talks with Ukrainian officials yesterday, this morning urged Russia to “end all hostilities”. “There is no military solution to this conflict… The only way we’re going to have peace if through negotiation,” he said.
He said the ball is in Russia’s court and said the US will have contact with the Russians today. “We’re going to bring it to them directly,” he said.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it’s important not to “get ahead” of the question of responding to the ceasefire, which was proposed by Washington. He told reporters that Moscow is awaiting “detailed information” from the U.S. and suggested that Russia must get that before it can take a position. The Kremlin has previously opposed anything short of a permanent end to the conflict and has not accepted any concessions.
Last night, the Prime Minister said the “ball is now in the Russian court”, adding: “Russia must now agree to a ceasefire and an end to the fighting too.” On Saturday Mr Starmer will hold a video call with 25 mostly European and Commonwealth countries who are interested in supporting Ukraine through the Coalition of the Willing. Military leaders will meet again next week after talks on how different nations’ armed forces can play their part yesterday.
