The United States is tonight poised to lift its ban on military aid and intelligence support for Ukraine after a plea by Sir Keir Starmer.
The Prime Minister spoke to US President Donald Trump for 20 minutes ahead of peace talks in Saudi Arabia to end the three-year conflict.
Downing Street sources said the PM raised the US’s suspension of intelligence-sharing and military aid in their call today.
UK officials have also been convincing Ukrainian officials of the need to meet US requirements for its military backing to resume.
Following his discussion with President Trump, a spokesman for the Prime Minister said he hoped there would be a ‘positive outcome’.
While on Saturday, Sir Keir will host a fresh meeting of countries who want to join the PM’s ‘coalition of the willing’ in Ukraine, to protect the country after any peace deal.
A Downing Street spokesman said: ‘The Prime Minister said he hoped there would be a positive outcome to the talks that would enable US and intelligence to be restarted.’
The US stopped supporting Ukraine in practical terms following the disastrous Oval Office meeting last month between Volodymyr Zelensky and President Trump.
Following his discussion with President Trump (pictured, left), a spokesman for the Prime Minister said he hoped there would be a ‘positive outcome’
The United States is tonight poised to lift its ban on military aid and intelligence support for Ukraine after a plea by Sir Keir Starmer (pictured)
Volodymyr Zelensky (R) is welcomed by Saudi officials upon arriving to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 10 March 2025
Devastation is seen after a large scale Russian attack on a residential complex on March 7th that killed 11 people and injured 47 on March 10, 2025 in Dobropillia, Ukraine
Sir Keir also spoke to the Parliamentary Labour Party tonight, telling MPs the ‘real world is moving quickly and people look to their government to seize it and shape it for the benefit of the British people’.
He added: ‘That’s why I have been clear the security of Ukraine is the future of Europe and our support for Ukraine is unwavering. Our defence and security must come first. That is what we owe to the British people.’
Speaking in Saudi Arabia ahead of negotiations, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sounded positive. He said today: ‘I think the notion of the pause in aid, broadly, is something I hope we can resolve.
‘Obviously what happens [today] will be key to that.’
Mr Rubio added it was up to Ukraine to be ‘prepared to do difficult things, like the Russians will’.
He also suggested Ukraine must give up land to Russia as part of any agreement to end the war.
President Zelensky arrived in Saudi Arabia today ahead of a meeting with the kingdom’s de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The US and Ukrainian delegations are expected to hold talks today.
According to US officials, Ukraine will propose a ceasefire covering the Black Sea and long-range missile strikes, as well as prisoner releases, in talks with Mr Rubio.
Ukraine is also ready to sign an agreement to give the US access to the country’s rare minerals.
Members of the National Police Special Purpose Battalion of Zaporizhzhia region fire a D-30 howitzer towards Russian troops on a front line, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine March 7, 2025
Ukrainian recruits and British Armed Forces trainers pose for a photograph on an AS90 self-propelled artillery system at a military facility, on February 23, 2023 in Southern England
The deal has been unsigned since the disastrous Oval Office meeting on February 28 between President Trump and president Zelensky.
To avoid any sort of flare up between Ukrainian and US officials, Britain’s national security advisor Jonathan Powell was sent to Kyiv to coach Ukrainian delegates on what to say and what not to say.
President Trump has previously stated he was confident the meetings in Saudi would achieve ‘a lot of progress’.
On the eve of the crunch talks in Saudi, President Trump claimed the US had ‘just about’ ended the suspension of intelligence sharing. Ukrainian officials insisted they are still affected by the move.
The talks involving the US and Ukraine today come after Mr Zelensky, Sir Keir and French president Emmanuel Macron agreed to work on peace proposals.
Sir Keir has continued to push President Trump to secure security guarantees for Ukraine, including supporting a European force if it was attacked by Russia.
Some countries are understood to be wary about committing troops before the US offers clarity on a possible ‘backstop’.
The stakes could scarcely be higher for Ukraine. A senior Ukrainian politician said the cost of the US stopping aid would be measures ‘in the lives of our soldiers’.
A serviceman of 24th Mechanized brigade named after King Danylo of the Ukrainian Armed Forces fires a 2s5 ‘Hyacinth-s’ self-propelled howitzer towards Russian troops at a front line
Vladimir Putin (pictured) invaded Ukraine in February 2022
Ukrainian officials believe the country could fight on for another six months without US military aid, but the withdrawal of intelligence support has more immediate impacts.
Writing on X tonight, President Zelensky thanked Ukraine’s European allies, including the UK, for their unstinting support.
He wrote: ‘New defence packages, strengthened air defence, and even more investments in our defence industry. Over the past few weeks, European countries have made dozens of decisions to increase support for Ukraine.
‘Strong positions on the frontline and strong diplomacy must work together to achieve a just and lasting peace. Under US leadership and in cooperation with all of Europe, this is absolutely achievable. Peace is our shared goal.’
