UK to skip Trump's Board of Peace signing over Putin concerns

The UK will not participate in Donald Trump's Board of Peace signing ceremony on January 22 due to "concerns about President Putin being part of something which is talking about peace," Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said.

Trump has invited dozens of world leaders to join his 'Board of Peace' initiative and is expected to take part in its charter announcement in Davos imminently, Caliber.Az reports via British media.

Originally intended to monitor the Gaza ceasefire, the board has evolved into a much broader initiative, leaving many traditional allies uneasy.

Asked earlier this week whether the board should replace the UN, Trump said that "it might."

The composition of the board has also sparked controversy. It remains unclear who will ultimately join. Traditional allies such as Italy have declined, while countries with historically tense relations with Washington, like Belarus, have accepted.

Russia was invited, but said it is still reviewing the proposal. Trump claimed on the evening of January 22 in Davos that Vladimir Putin had accepted the invitation, however.

By Jeyhun Aghazada