LONDON, February 6. /TASS/. The upcoming meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group will be led by UK Defense Secretary John Healey, the Times reported.

According to the report, US President Donald Trump’s administration has asked London to lead the group of Kiev’s allies. It is unclear whether the UK’s leadership will be permanent or the role will pass to other European allies on a rotating basis.

The Times reported that the Americans said the UK should be leading NATO in Europe.

A UK government source told the newspaper it was "an important moment."

"This is us showing the UK is continuing to work with the US and allies to step up support for Ukraine. It is an opportunity to show that European nations are ready to do more - working alongside our US allies," the person said.

The 26th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group is scheduled to take place in Brussels on February 12 and will be the first meeting after Trump took office. The new US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is expected to attend, paving the way for a potential first-ever meeting of US and Ukrainian defense ministers under Trump.

Foreign ministers from EU member states and Ukraine will also meet in Brussels on February 12. The US hasn’t yet confirmed it will be represented at the meeting. Afterward, heads of state along with foreign and defense ministers from NATO members and allies will gather for the Munich Security Conference from February 14-16.