Recent US and UK government policy on Ukraine

Approximate read time: 25 minutes

On 17 March 2025, the House of Lords is scheduled to consider the following question for short debate:

Lord Skidelsky (Crossbench) to ask His Majesty’s Government what is their policy with regard to the Ukraine war following the new policy of the government of the United States of America.

This briefing provides a timeline of recent US and UK government policy on the conflict in Ukraine, as of 12 March 2025. Materials on the conflict itself or providing further background can be found in section 4.

1. Recent US government policy

Since President Trump’s inauguration in January 2025, US government policy towards Ukraine has experienced a shift in approach. This has included direct negotiations with Russia on the conflict, a potential minerals agreement with Ukraine and pausing military aid and intelligence sharing. The US government has consistently stressed the importance of working towards “lasting peace” in the region, and—as at 11 March 2025—was seeking negotiations for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.^[1]

1.1 US-Russia peace talks on Ukraine

On 12 February 2025, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin had a phone call which was described by President Trump as “lengthy and highly productive”.^[2] Following the call, President Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that both leaders had “agreed to have our respective teams start negotiations immediately” to end the conflict in Ukraine.^[3]

In response to President Trump’s announcement, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the European Union issued a joint statement expressing their willingness to enhance support for Ukraine and engage in discussions with the US on future negotiations.^[4] The statement highlighted that “Ukraine and Europe must be part of any negotiations” and affirmed that “the security of the European continent is our common responsibility,” with the signatories “working together to strengthen our collective defence capabilities”.

Following the call between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also stated that he had spoken with President Trump about a “lasting, reliable peace” and that they had had “agreed to maintain further contact and plan upcoming meetings”.^[5]

On the same day, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke at a defence summit in Brussels. He called on European nations to take on the “overwhelming share” of aid to Ukraine, asserting that the US would “no longer tolerate an imbalanced relationship”.^[6] He also argued that a return to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders was “an unrealistic objective”.

The following day, President Zelensky warned President Trump and President Putin that Ukraine could not accept “any agreements [made] without us”.^[7]

On 19 February 2025, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held high-level talks in Saudi Arabia, with both parties agreeing to appoint teams to negotiate an end to the war.^[8] Following these talks, President Trump criticised President Zelensky’s dissatisfaction with Ukraine’s exclusion from the negotiations.^[9] He stated:

I hear that they’re [Ukraine] upset about not having a seat, well, they’ve had a seat for three years and a long time before that. This could have been settled very easily.

President Zelensky responded by accusing President Trump of “living in a disinformation space created by Russia”.^[10] The same day, President Trump further criticised President Zelensky, describing him as a “dictator” for not having called elections in Ukraine.^[11] European leaders responded to President Trump’s comments by reaffirming their support for President Zelensky, including UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who described him as a “democratically elected leader”. He said suspending elections during wartime was “perfectly reasonable”, highlighting the UK’s actions during the second world war.^[12]

On 20 February 2025, President Trump expressed optimism about a peace agreement, calling on President Zelensky and President Putin to “get together”.^[13]

1.2 Minerals agreement and disputes between the US and Ukraine

On 20 February 2025, President Trump also stated that the US and Ukraine were “pretty close” to finalising a minerals agreement.^[14] The agreement would establish an investment fund, jointly managed by both governments, to support Ukraine’s reconstruction.^[15] Ukraine would reportedly contribute 50% of the future proceeds from its state-owned mineral resources, oil, and gas to the fund, which would be invested to “promote the safety, security and prosperity of Ukraine”. The agreement would also, in accordance with US law, “maintain a long-term financial commitment to the development of a stable and economically prosperous Ukraine”. President Zelensky had previously rejected the proposal, stating that it was not “a serious conversation” and that he “cannot sell our state”.^[16]

The US displayed a further shift in its stance towards Ukraine at the United Nations on 24 and 25 February 2025, which marked the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.^[17] In the UN general assembly, the US voted against a European-drafted resolution which both criticised Russia’s actions and supported Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Russia, and countries including North Korea and Belarus, also voted against the resolution. BBC News reported that the US’ decision was criticised by Ukraine’s former minister of the economy, Tymofiy Mylovanov, who stated that the vote alongside Russia was deliberate and “no longer just rhetoric or political theatre”. The US also proposed its own motion at the general assembly. BBC News reported that the general assembly adopted the resolution “only after it was amended to include language supporting Ukraine, which led to the US abstaining”.^[18]

Additionally, the US proposed a resolution in the UN security council calling for a “swift end” to the conflict and for a “lasting peace” between Russia and Ukraine.^[19] However, BBC News reported that the motion “contained no criticism of Russia”.^[20] Therefore, although the resolution passed, the UK and France abstained after their attempts to amend the wording were vetoed. According to the US acting envoy to the UN, Dorothy Camille Shea, the resolution was a “simple historic statement […] that looks forward, not backwards. A resolution focused on one simple idea: ending the war”.

Also on 25 February 2025, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced that a preliminary minerals agreement with the US government had been reached and was expected to be signed that week when President Zelensky was due to meet with President Trump at the White House.^[21] However, during the meeting on 28 February 2025, President Trump accused President Zelensky of being “disrespectful” to the US and stated that “your people are very brave, but you’re either going to make a deal or we’re out. And if we’re out, you’ll fight it out”.^[22] The meeting ended abruptly. President Trump further criticised President Zelensky on his personal Truth Social account, stating:

[…] I have determined that President Zelensky is not ready for peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations. I don’t want advantage, I want peace. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for peace.^[23]

On 4 March 2025, President Trump told the US Congress that he had received a letter from President Zelensky stating that Ukraine would sign the minerals agreement at “any time” convenient to the US government.^[24]

1.3 Pause in US military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine

The US government paused shipments of military equipment to Ukraine on 3 March 2025.^[25] This decision was criticised by Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who called the move a “critical strategic mistake”, and Senator Elizabeth Warren, who accused President Trump of “siding with Putin over US allies in Europe”.^[26] Some Republicans, such as Senator Susan Collins, also criticised the decision. She stated that she “[did] not think we should be pausing our efforts […] It’s the Ukrainians who are shedding blood”.^[27]

Russia welcomed the decision, with government spokesperson Dmitry Peskov describing it as a “solution which could really push the Kyiv regime to a peace process”.^[28] However, Fedir Venislavsky, a member of the Ukrainian Parliament’s defence committee, stated that his country had a weapons stockpile that would last six months “without consistent help from the US”.

On 4 March 2025, President Zelensky described the Oval Office meeting as “regrettable” and said that it was “time to make things right”.^[29] He stated that Ukraine was “ready to work fast to end the war, and the first stages could be the release of prisoners and truce in the sky—ban on missiles, long-ranged drones, bombs on energy and other civilian infrastructure—and truce in the sea immediately, if Russia will do the same”.

Also on 4 March 2025, in an address to Congress, President Trump stated that he had received a letter from the Ukrainian President agreeing to “come to the negotiating table”.^[30] He also mentioned that there had been “serious discussions” with Russia and noted that he had “received strong signals that they are ready for peace”.

The following day, US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz confirmed a pause in intelligence sharing with Ukraine.^[31] He suggested that intelligence sharing could resume in the future, should negotiations progress, stating:

On the military front and the intelligence front, the pause that allowed that to happen, will go away and we’ll work shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine […] I think if we can nail down these negotiations and move towards these negotiations, and in fact, put some confidence-building measures on the table, then the president will take a hard look at lifting this pause.

The US government’s pause on intelligence sharing with Ukraine could potentially impact the Ukrainian military’s ability to deter Russian advances.^[32] This intelligence, which reportedly includes satellite imagery and signals, has aided Ukraine’s armed forces in preparing for Russian attacks and tracking troop movements. Marina Miron, a postdoctoral researcher at the defence studies department at King’s College London, said that Ukraine “need[s] that information […] in order to target hostile objectives like ammunition depots and logistical hubs”. Additionally, Mikhail Alexseev, a professor of political science at San Diego State University, stated that the pause “would allow Russia to stage its bombers closer to Ukraine, thus facilitating missile strikes on its military positions and on civilian targets, including in big cities, that would be harder to defend against”.

Between 7 and 9 March 2025, Russia launched an aerial operation on several regions in Ukraine, which President Zelensky described as “massive” and “directed against infrastructure that ensures normal life”.^[33] The attacks killed at least 20 people and comprised nearly 70 missiles and almost 200 drones. Separately, Russia announced that its military had recaptured three settlements from Ukraine in the Kursk region of Russia.^[34]

Following the attacks, President Trump said that he was considering large-scale sanctions and tariffs against Russia.^[35] In a post on Truth Social, he stated:

I am strongly considering large scale banking sanctions, sanctions, and tariffs on Russia until a ceasefire and final settlement agreement on peace is reached. To Russia and Ukraine, get to the table right now, before it is too late.

1.4 US-Ukrainian talks on a potential ceasefire

On 11 March 2025, representatives from the US and Ukrainian governments met in Saudi Arabia to discuss a framework for ending the war. Additionally, the two sides discussed the minerals agreement.^[36]

Following the talks, the US and Ukrainian governments published a joint statement.^[37] The joint statement outlined that Ukraine was ready to accept an immediate 30-day ceasefire subject to Russian agreement and, following Ukraine’s agreement to a ceasefire, the US had resumed intelligence sharing and the delivery of military aid with Ukraine. The statement noted:

Ukraine expressed readiness to accept the US proposal to enact an immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire, which can be extended by mutual agreement of the parties, and which is subject to acceptance and concurrent implementation by the Russian Federation.

The US will communicate to Russia that Russian reciprocity is the key to achieving peace. The US will immediately lift the pause on intelligence sharing and resume security assistance to Ukraine.

The joint statement also detailed that both President Trump and President Zelensky had agreed to conclude “as soon as possible” an agreement for “developing Ukraine’s critical mineral resources to expand Ukraine’s economy and guarantee Ukraine’s long-term prosperity and security”.^[38]

Commenting on the talks, President Trump told reporters that the US was planning to meet with Russia “later on today and tomorrow and hopefully we’ll be able to [work] out a deal”.^[39] President Zelensky stated that Ukraine was “ready to accept the proposal” and that “now, it is up to the US to convince Russia to do the same”.

2. Recent UK government policy

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the UK government has consistently expressed its support for Ukraine through financial and military support, in addition to diplomatic engagement.

2.1 UK-Ukrainian 100-year partnership agreement

In January 2025, the UK and Ukrainian governments signed a 100-year partnership agreement. The agreement aimed to build on previous bilateral agreements and to “deepen security ties and strengthen partnership for future generations”.^[40] The agreement comprised a treaty, laid before Parliament on 24 February 2025, and a political declaration outlining areas of cooperation.^[41] Areas of cooperation included defence and security. In these areas, the countries committed to:

• Establishing stronger and closer defence cooperation and industrial bases. This included committing to conduct joint defence capability projects and “encourage the establishment of joint defence enterprises”.
• Creating “flexible rapid response mechanisms”, including the creation, maintenance and joint use of military formations and other specialised structures to “provide a wide range of mutual defence and security services”.
• The UK expanding its contribution to the modern jet coalition, assisting coalition partners to increase F-16 fighter jets for Ukraine and exploring supplying Ukraine with other fighter jets used by NATO.
• The UK providing Ukraine with military assistance of a minimum of £3bn annually until 2030/31 and “for as long as needed” to support the country.
• Exploring options for deploying and maintaining defence infrastructure in Ukraine, including military bases, reserve military equipment storage facilities and military stockpiles.
• Building a maritime security partnership and working together to “ensure safety of navigation and protection of trade in the Black and Azov seas and beyond”. Additionally, the UK would support Ukraine to strengthen its protection of its existing critical maritime infrastructure.

Article 11 of the treaty allows for further agreements or arrangements “as necessary and appropriate to implement this agreement”.^[42]

2.2 Financial and military support

In a recent policy paper, the government outlined that it had committed £12.8bn to Ukraine as of 28 February 2025.^[43] This comprised £7.8bn in military support and £5bn in non-military support. Recent funding commitments included:

• In January 2025, the government committed to providing £4.5bn in military support to Ukraine for the year.^[44] This allocation included £3bn for “lethal aid” and the initial £1.5bn from a £2.26bn loan under the G7 extraordinary revenue acceleration (ERA) scheme. This scheme, announced in June 2024, was to be repaid “using the extraordinary profits on immobilised Russian sovereign assets”. These funds were designated for the procurement of air defence systems, drones and “essential” equipment to “sustain Ukrainian forces on the front line”. Legislation enabling the disbursement of these funds received royal assent on 16 January 2025.^[45]
• In February 2025, the government announced a £150mn military support package, which included drones, battle tanks, armoured vehicles and air defence systems.^[46] The defence secretary, John Healey, also announced that 500,000 rounds of artillery ammunition worth more than £1bn had been provided to Ukraine.
• £4.1bn in fiscal support had been provided through World Bank loan guarantees to “bolster Ukraine’s economic stability and support vital public services”.^[47] This included a multi-year commitment announced by the then Conservative government at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in 2023.^[48]
• £977mn in bilateral assistance had been committed as of February 2025, in addition to a £282mn commitment for 2024 to 2025.^[49] These funds are intended for energy, humanitarian, reform, recovery, reconstruction and stabilisation programmes.

2.3 Commitment to Ukraine’s security

On 14 February 2025, Sir Keir Starmer reaffirmed the UK’s commitment—previously made with former US President Joe Biden—to support Ukraine’s NATO membership during a phone call with President Zelensky.^[50] However, the Trump administration had previously said it “does not believe that NATO membership for Ukraine is a realistic outcome of a negotiated settlement”.^[51]

On 16 February 2025, Sir Keir Starmer stated that he was “ready and willing” to deploy UK troops to Ukraine as part of a peace deal to help guarantee its security.^[52] He emphasised that “any role in helping to guarantee Ukraine’s security is helping to guarantee the security of our continent, and the security of this country”. However, the Russian government has previously said it would not accept the presence of European peacekeepers in Ukraine.^[53]

2.4 Diplomatic meetings with US and Ukrainian leaders

On 27 February 2025, Sir Keir Starmer met with President Trump at the White House.^[54] A press release from the Prime Minister’s Office stated that the leaders “agreed that on Ukraine, talks must work towards a lasting peace”. In his opening remarks at a White House press conference following the meeting, the prime minister pledged military support to Ukraine, including potential troop deployment, and called for support from other European leaders.^[55] He stated:

We’ve discussed a plan today to reach a peace that is tough and fair. That Ukraine will help to shape. That is backed by strength—to stop Putin coming back for more. And I am working closely with other European leaders on this, and I am clear that the UK is ready to put boots on the ground and planes in the air to support a deal. Working together with our allies, because that is the only way that peace will last.

On 1 March 2025, the day after President Zelensky’s meeting with President Trump, Sir Keir Starmer met with President Zelensky at Downing Street.^[56] Following the meeting, the prime minister affirmed that the Ukrainian President had “full backing across the UK”. Sir Keir Starmer told the BBC that the UK and France would collaborate with Ukraine “on a plan to stop the fighting” with Russia and would later “discuss that plan with the US”.^[57]

2.5 Peace summit in London

On 2 March 2025, the government hosted a peace summit at Lancaster House, which was attended by President Zelensky, European leaders, outgoing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.^[58] In a speech delivered at the summit, Sir Keir Starmer stated that the leaders had agreed “some important steps”, including commitments to:

• keep “the military aid flowing” and “increasing the economic pressure on Russia”
• include Ukraine in peace negotiations
• increase Ukraine’s defensive capabilities “to deter any future invasion”
• create a “coalition of the willing” to “defend a deal in Ukraine and to guarantee the peace”

The prime minister also highlighted the £2.2bn loan paid to Ukraine to “provide more military aid to Ukraine” backed “by the profits from frozen Russian assets”. Additionally, he announced a deal allowing Ukraine to use £1.6bn of UK export finance to purchase over 5,000 air defence missiles. He stated that these missiles would be made in Belfast and would create UK defence sector jobs.^[59]

2.6 Statement in the House of Commons on Ukraine

Following the peace summit, on 3 March 2025 Sir Keir Starmer made a statement in the House of Commons on Ukraine.^[60] He outlined the commitments made with other European leaders at the summit and emphasised Britain’s role, alongside European efforts and support from the US, in resolving the conflict. The prime minister stated:

[…] We must proceed with strength, and that does now require urgently a coalition of the willing. We agreed on Sunday that those willing to play a role in this will intensify planning now, and, as this House would expect, Britain will play a leading role—with, if necessary, and together with others, boots on the ground and planes in the air. It is right that Europe does the heavy lifting to support peace on our continent, but to succeed this effort must also have strong US backing.^[61]

Additionally, the prime minister stated that he felt “very strongly” that the future of Ukraine was “vital” for the UK’s national security, highlighting that Russia had been a “menace” in British waters and skies, launched cyber-attacks on the NHS, and had “made assassination attempts on our streets”.^[62]

3. International response to the conflict

The international response to the conflict has included support for Ukraine from various international organisations and governments. Examples of this support include:

• NATO: The organisation has supported Ukraine by providing military aid, logistical assistance and training.^[63] Through its ‘comprehensive assistance package’, NATO member countries have pledged over US$990mn in “non-lethal” aid, encompassing body armour, fuel, medical supplies and transportation. Additionally, members have committed to supporting Ukraine further through a multi-year assistance programme aimed at modernising the country’s security and defence sector.
• EU: The EU has provided significant financial and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. In total, EU support for the country has amounted to €135.4bn.^[64] In December 2023, the EU decided to open accession negotiations with Ukraine.^[65] In June 2024, the EU formally opened accession negotiations. As of March 2025, the EU noted that work was “underway” to “prepare talks in specific areas, based on the negotiating framework”.
• France: France has reaffirmed its support for Ukraine’s security and highlighted the need for Europe to prepare for a future with potentially reduced reliance on US assistance. In a televised address on 5 March 2025, President Macron stated the importance of continued European support for Ukraine to “resist until Ukraine can negotiate a peace with Russia that is solid for themselves and for all of us”.^[66] Addressing the US government’s stance, he noted that “the US, our ally, has changed its position on this war, supporting Ukraine less and allowing doubt to linger on what will come next”. President Macron also warned that Russia “knows no borders” and announced that he would be consulting other European governments regarding the extension of France’s nuclear deterrence, although the control of the deterrent would remain with the French president.^[67]
• Canada: Canada has supported Ukraine in the conflict through the provision of military and financial aid.^[68] During a visit to Kyiv in February 2025, outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau indicated that Canada would be disbursing $2.5bn of its $5bn contribution to the G7 ERA scheme “in the coming days, with the remainder to follow soon”. Canada has also implemented sanctions against more than 3,000 Russian individuals and entities “who are complicit in the violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity” and 109 vessels due to their “involvement in the transfer of sanctioned goods”.

However, some countries, such as Hungary, have advocated for peace negotiations while also expressing caution about increasing military aid to Ukraine.^[69] On 7 March 2025, the leaders of 26 EU countries signed a statement expressing support for Ukraine. However, Hungary opted against signing the statement. Prime Minister Viktor Orban expressed concerns that the EU could not afford to finance Ukraine if US financial aid was not guaranteed, and that increasing EU spending on defence, in addition to supporting Ukraine, would “ruin Europe”. He stated:

If now the US quits [financing the war] why would the other 26 member states have a chance […] Today it appears that I have vetoed. But within weeks they [leaders of EU countries] will come back and it will turn out that there is no money for these goals.^[70]

Mr Orban also announced plans for a national public consultation on Ukraine’s accession to the EU.^[71]

4. Read more

• Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, ‘UK support to Ukraine: Factsheet’, updated 28 February 2025
• House of Commons Library, ‘Ukraine conflict: An overview’, 21 February 2025
• House of Commons Library, ‘Conflict in Ukraine: A timeline (current conflict, 2022–present)’, 21 February 2025
• House of Lords Library, ‘Ukraine: A wake-up call—Lords committee report debate’, 13 February 2025
• Congressional Research Service, ‘Russia’s war against Ukraine: US policy and the role of Congress’, updated 23 December 2024
• House of Lords Library, ‘Humanitarian assistance for Ukraine: December 2024’, 9 December 2024

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