UK defence chief seeks to bridge US and Ukraine in Washington talks

UK Defence Secretary John Healey said London will try to act as a "bridge" between the US and Ukraine during a "critical moment," ahead of his first bilateral meeting with US counterpart Pete Hegseth in Washington. Healey stated the past week was one of the worst periods in US-Ukraine relations, following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's remarks about feeling betrayed. He emphasized the importance of continued American support, including intelligence sharing and weapons supplies, while noting all agree negotiations are the only way to end the war. The visit comes amid escalating tensions, including US threats to halt intelligence sharing over Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries, and reported temporary restrictions on Starlink terminals for Ukrainian forces, which were later restored.