A No.10 official disputed this characterization, stressing that the intelligence and military relationship is “functioning every day as usual,” and pointing out that Powell was in attendance for a recent meeting between U.S. Vice-President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.K. Deputy PM David Lammy.
However, it remains unclear how Trump regards efforts by allies to restart talks aimed at securing a ceasefire in Ukraine.
Inside the U.S. administration, some aides could not recall the last time the topic of Russia-Ukraine peace talks came up. “Iran has definitely become the primary focus,” said a senior White House official.
The president’s top two envoys involved in dialogue with Russia and Ukraine, Witkoff and Jared Kushner, “are working mostly on Iran,” the official continued, although they acknowledged that some communication with Russian and Ukrainian counterparts has continued to take place.
The same White House official also acknowledged that the president’s interest in working with NATO colleagues on Ukraine has diminished due to his very public frustration with European allies over their refusal to join the U.S. war against Iran.
As well as insulting Starmer, Trump upbraided NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte during a White House meeting and presented him with a “naughty and nice” list that split member countries into two categories, based on their level of defense spending and future commitments.
