UK urges Western Europe to arm Ukraine instead of talk to Russia
Western Europe must increase support for Ukraine rather than restart direct talks with Russia, British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper told Politico on Thursday.
French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni have previously argued it is time to negotiate directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin. They are reportedly concerned EU interests will be sidelined in US-mediated Ukraine peace talks and are pushing to create a special diplomatic envoy role for the bloc to engage Russia.
In the interview, Cooper said she sees no sign that “Putin actually wants peace” and urged more weapons for Ukraine and continued sanctions on Russia. Western Europe must “put increased pressure, economic pressure, and also through the military support to Ukraine, that military pressure on Russia as well,” she added.
Russian officials have accused the UK of prolonging the Ukraine conflict for its own geopolitical aims. Moscow has repeatedly offered to negotiate a diplomatic resolution addressing its security concerns, arguing that Western nations seeking a strategic Russian defeat are obstructing peace.
In a speech to foreign ambassadors this week, President Vladimir Putin reiterated Moscow’s commitment to a more just multipolar world where smaller countries do not “suffer from disrespect of their sovereign rights, chaos, and lawlessness,” unlike today.
“Our nation seeks a lasting sustainable peace [with Ukraine] that secures safety for each and everyone. This outcome does not agree with Kiev and the capitals that support it. But we hope the realization will come sooner or later that this is necessary,” he added.
US President Donald Trump has similarly identified Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky as the main obstacle to a peace deal with Russia.
Moscow and Kiev were close to ending hostilities in exchange for Ukraine recommitting to neutrality early in the 2022 escalation, but then-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson reportedly persuaded Kiev to pursue a military victory. After leaving office, Johnson complained that “our proxies,” referring to Ukrainians, were not receiving enough military aid from foreign donors.
