He asserts that the country stands united in support of Ukraine and urges Britain to "step up" its military assistance to the embattled nation.
His remarks come as a boost for President Zelensky at a gathering of defense ministers, just days after Zelensky’s tense press conference with President Trump raised concerns about the future of U.S. support. "The UK remains united for Ukraine," he stated. The Defense Secretary emphasized the need for a "durable peace that prevents Russia from simply regrouping and launching another invasion."
Mr. Healey stressed that Britain must "increase our military aid to Ukraine and keep them in the fight" until the conflict ends and negotiations begin. He also highlighted the importance of advancing discussions on potential "security guarantees" for Ukraine’s future. While Britain is working on its strategy to help secure Ukraine, Mr. Healey does not anticipate UK forces patrolling a demilitarized zone along the entire border—similar to the division between North and South Korea.
"The border between Russia and Ukraine stretches 1,000km. A traditional peacekeeping force along that entire line is unrealistic and may not be the right approach for the future," he explained.
Addressing the complexity of security guarantees, he added: "This requires close cooperation with our allies. We're leading this work alongside the French, in close discussions with the Americans, NATO, and the Ukrainians."
He expressed pride in the UK's role but refrained from revealing further details, stating: "I don’t want to give President Putin any more insight into our plans."
The 65-year-old argued that NATO is in a stronger position than when the Ukraine crisis began, thanks to the alliance’s expansion and increased defense spending. "Contrary to President Putin’s expectations when he launched his full-scale invasion three years ago, NATO is now bigger and stronger, with Sweden and Finland joining. The UK’s leadership in increasing defense spending is setting an example, and I expect other European NATO nations to follow suit, making the alliance even more robust."
Mr. Healey insists that Britain must modernize its military in response to growing global instability. Last week, Sir Keir Starmer announced that UK defense spending will rise to 2.5% of GDP by April 2027, with an eventual target of 3% in the next parliament.
"We’ve delivered this increase three years earlier than expected, fulfilling our manifesto commitment while recognizing the shifting global landscape—and adapting our defense accordingly," he stated.
The Defense Secretary wants this additional investment to fuel job creation and economic growth in the UK. He emphasized the need to leverage advanced technologies such as drones, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing for national defense. Alongside financial commitments, he called for a "long-term defense industrial strategy."
"The world is changing," he said. "Our defense must evolve with it. We need to recognize the growing threats and ensure our armed forces are better prepared for combat, while also strengthening alliances to deter adversaries."
He criticized past defense innovation efforts as "too small, too fragmented, and too slow," lamenting that cutting-edge technologies and promising ideas often fail to transition from development to frontline deployment. "That’s the challenge we must overcome," he stressed.
Questions remain about whether the size of the Regular Army will increase. At the start of the year, the UK had just 73,847 regular soldiers, down from 75,166 the previous year.
"The Strategic Defence Review is well underway," Mr. Healey said. "It’s evaluating all these concerns—the threats we face and the capabilities we need for the future."
For years, the Ministry of Defence has been plagued by procurement issues, but Mr. Healey vowed to ensure that increased defense spending is used effectively. "I feel a strong responsibility to ensure this investment is well-managed, delivering better value for both British taxpayers and our troops," he concluded.
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