UK rejects calls to reopen talks with Putin

The United Kingdom has publicly broken ranks with France and Italy over whether Europe should resume direct diplomatic engagement with Russian President Vladimir Putin, warning that Moscow has shown no credible interest in ending the war in Ukraine.

Speaking to POLITICO on January 15, UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper dismissed suggestions from leaders in Paris and Rome that European allies should consider reopening talks with the Kremlin as part of peace efforts.

“I think what we need is evidence that Putin actually wants peace and at the moment, I’m still not seeing that,” Cooper said.

Her remarks come amid growing concern in Brussels that the European Union could be sidelined if the United States takes the lead in any future negotiations with Moscow. Those fears have prompted moves within the EU to strengthen its role, including plans to appoint a dedicated EU envoy to Ukraine to ensure the bloc has a seat at the table in any peace talks.

Cooper argued that, for now, the focus of diplomacy should remain on Kyiv and its closest partners.

“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,” she said. “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.”

In the absence of such evidence, Cooper said pressure on Moscow should be increased rather than relaxed, through both economic measures and continued military assistance to Ukraine.

“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 added.

By Sabina Mammadli