Haley says Putin-Trump talks could be first step toward peace.

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin's summit on Ukraine could be a "first step towards serious talks" for peace, the defence secretary has suggested.

John Haley said any conflict "must be resolved through diplomacy", ahead of a meeting between the two leaders in Alaska on Friday.

European leaders are set for the meeting and have expressed optimism about the prospect of a possible ceasefire following a joint call with US President Mr Trump earlier this week.

Mr Trump was seen boarding Air Force One for the summit around lunchtime UK time on Friday. He had earlier posted "HIGH STAKES!!!" on his TruthSocial platform.

Speaking to reporters en route to the talks, he said it was "possible" the US would offer security guarantees to Kiev, along with European powers, but "not in the form of NATO".

He said it was up to the Ukrainians to decide whether to give land to Mr Putin as part of a peace deal, but added: “I think they will make the appropriate decision.”

Mr Trump said he was “not here to negotiate for Ukraine”, adding: “I am here to bring them to a table.”

Cabinet Secretary Ms Haley was asked what lessons from VJ Day – which is being observed on Friday – could be applied to the present day, ahead of Mr Trump’s meeting with the Russian leader.

He told BBC Breakfast: "The first lesson is that armies and fighting ultimately solve nothing, and that war must be ended by dialogue, by diplomacy."

"So today in Alaska is what I hope, we all hope, is the first step towards serious negotiations."

On Thursday, Mr Trump suggested that if Friday's summit goes well, European leaders could be invited to a second meeting.

Speaking at the White House, he said: "We have a meeting tomorrow with President (Vladimir) Putin, I think it's going to be a good meeting.

But the more important meeting will be the second meeting that we're having. We're going to have President Putin, (Ukrainian) President (Volodymyr) Zelensky himself, and maybe we'll bring some European leaders along. "Probably not."

He told the BBC: "The UK's role is to stand with Ukraine on the battlefield and in negotiations, and to prepare, as we have been doing, to lead 30 other countries with military planning for a ceasefire and a secure peace, which we call a coalition of the willing."