U.K. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy is scheduled to meet U.S. Vice President JD Vance in Washington on Thursday as European leaders seek to secure security guarantees for Ukraine.
Lammy will travel to Washington on Wednesday to participate in celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, while also reviving key diplomatic connections.
The meeting comes at a sensitive time for U.S.-U.K. relations following President Donald Trump’s renewed claims to Greenland after a U.S. operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and other European leaders issued a statement Tuesday emphasizing that Greenland’s security must be ensured collectively under NATO.
According to multiple officials familiar with the plans, Lammy and Vance are expected to discuss Ukraine alongside other bilateral and global issues.
Lammy, Britain’s former foreign secretary, has developed a personal friendship with Vance. The vice president and his family previously stayed with Lammy in the U.K., and the two have bonded over their shared experiences and faith. Lammy attended Mass in Washington at Vance’s invitation in March 2025.
Lammy was appointed Justice Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister in September 2025, following a cabinet reshuffle that saw him leave the post of foreign secretary after Angela Rayner’s resignation. During his U.S. visit, he will also meet members of Congress with whom he has strong ties, continuing a “long-planned trip to discuss the special relationship,” according to a British official.
The visit is part of London’s broader effort to secure U.S. backing for a potential ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, currently being negotiated by the “coalition of the willing” in Paris.
Vance, initially one of the most skeptical voices in Washington on U.S. involvement in Ukraine peace efforts, became more actively engaged in talks during the latter half of 2025.
