The UK has rejected a proposal from France and Italy to resume talks with Moscow under the leadership of Russian president Vladimir Putin, according to the country’s foreign secretary, Yvette Cooper, reports Politico.
Cooper emphasized that Russia has so far shown no interest in peace.
“I think what we need is evidence that Putin actually wants peace and at the moment, I’m still not seeing that,” she said.
In this way, she dismissed proposals from Paris and Rome that European allies should consider resuming diplomatic relations with Putin as part of efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
The head of the UK foreign office believes that in the absence of evidence of readiness for peace, pressure on Moscow should be increased — through sanctions and military support — rather than eased.
“I think we’ve still got to be ready alongside this really important work to put increased pressure, economic pressure, and also through the military support to Ukraine, that military pressure on Russia as well,” she said.
According to Cooper, at this point, the diplomatic center of gravity lies in Ukraine and the countries that are Kyiv’s closest allies.
“What we’ve seen is the huge commitment to work being done by Ukraine, with the U.S. and supported by Europe to draw up plans for peace including security guarantees. But so far, I don’t see the evidence that Putin is yet willing to come to the table, or yet willing to have discussions,” she added.
These comments were made amid concerns in Brussels that the EU could be sidelined if Washington takes the lead in any future negotiations with Moscow.
These concerns have already prompted the EU to take steps to strengthen its influence, including plans to create the post of an EU special envoy to ensure the Union has a seat at the negotiating table.
