The world is witnessing two overlapping crises: a renewed war between the US and Iran, and a push for peace in Ukraine. On one front, the US has been bombing Iran since late February, after President Donald Trump broke off nuclear talks. On another, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has joined the UK, France and Germany to set out conditions for ending the war with Russia. Both conflicts involve the same world powers – the US, UK, France, Germany – and both have reached critical moments. For UK readers, the outcomes will affect energy prices, national security and the government's foreign policy choices.
The basics: The US-led war on Iran began on 28 February 2026, when Trump ordered airstrikes that killed Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. His son, Mojtaba Khamenei, has since taken over. Trump says he wants a ceasefire and that the two sides are "very close" to a deal. He insists Iran has given up its nuclear weapons programme, but that US troops will stay in Iran to destroy its enriched uranium stockpiles. Meanwhile, Israel and Iran have exchanged airstrikes, breaking a US-backed ceasefire that had been in place since April. Israel ignored Trump's plea not to retaliate after Iran launched ballistic missiles. The EU and Belgium have called for de‑escalation.
“Explains the US-Iran war and Ukraine peace push, with UK implications for energy and security.”
On the other side of the continent, Zelensky, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz – the so-called E3 group – met in London on 7 June 2026. They agreed five conditions for a "just and lasting" peace with Russia: a stop to the fighting, negotiations from the current front line, robust security guarantees for Ukraine, respect for Ukraine's right to choose its own security alliances, and active US and European participation in talks. The UK and France lead a "coalition of the willing" to provide those security guarantees.
Background: Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. The US had previously pushed both sides to agree to a peace plan but the fighting has continued, with Ukraine now striking deep inside Russia using drones. In Iran, the US abandoned a nuclear deal in Trump's first term. After his re-election, talks collapsed and he launched a war. Trump has blamed his predecessors for the situation, but says he wants a deal that bans Iran from ever acquiring nuclear weapons.
Why it matters for UK readers: The UK is a key ally of both Ukraine and the US. British forces are involved in the coalition providing security guarantees for Ukraine, and the government is hosting summits to shape peace terms. The UK also has military assets in the Middle East and could be drawn into escorting ships through the Strait of Hormuz, as EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has suggested. Escalation in Iran and Israel pushes oil prices back towards $100 a barrel, which will hit UK household bills and business costs. The UK's stance on the peace processes will define its post-Brexit global role.
Key questions answered:
Q: What are the five conditions for Ukraine peace? The UK, France, Germany and Ukraine agreed on: a ceasefire, negotiations from the current front line, robust security guarantees for Ukraine, respect for Ukraine's right to choose its alliances, and active US and European participation in talks.
Q: Will US troops stay in Iran after a ceasefire? Yes, President Trump has said US troops will remain in Iran until all highly enriched uranium is destroyed. He said if a deal is reached, the US would help remove the material "on-site or off-site".
Q: Why did Israel and Iran break the ceasefire? Iran launched ten ballistic missiles at Israel, which were intercepted. Israel then struck targets in central and western Iran. Trump had urged Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu not to retaliate, but Israel ignored him, straining US-Israel relations.
What happens next: The US and Iran are negotiating a final deal, with Trump warning that if Iran doesn't agree, he will "take them out militarily very harshly". The Ukraine peace process depends on Russia accepting the E3 conditions – Putin has so far said he will only end the war when his goals are met. The UK and EU are pushing all sides towards talks, but the coming weeks will test whether diplomacy can stop the bloodshed on both fronts.