British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper broke with the French and Italian leaders on Thursday, saying that Europe should not attempt to engage Moscow in diplomatic efforts before Russian President Vladimir Putin indicates a willingness to accept peace.
“I think what we need is evidence that Putin actually wants peace and at the moment, I’m still not seeing that,” Cooper told Politico.
It came after Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni last Friday urged the appointment of a special EU envoy to Moscow, saying: “I believe the time has come for Europe to also speak with Russia.”
Meloni’s call echoed French President Emmanuel Macron, who last month said it would be “in our interest as Europeans and Ukrainians to find the right framework” to bring Russia into direct talks rather than relying on US mediators.
Moscow on Friday praised the proposals as “positive,” with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov saying: “If this truly reflects the strategic vision of the Europeans, then it is a positive evolution of their position.”
“From Paris, from Rome, and even from Berlin there is support for the idea that for there to be stability in Europe you need to talk to the Russians,” he added.
However, Cooper in her comments to Politico countered the diplomatic momentum which for now rests with Ukraine and its closest backers.
“What we’ve seen is the huge commitment to work being done by Ukraine, with the US 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.”
The foreign secretary argued that the most effective instrument to bring Moscow to the negotiating table would be greater pressure through sanctions and military support.
“I think we’ve still got to be ready alongside this really important work to put increased pressure, economic pressure, and also through military support to Ukraine, that military pressure on Russia as well,” Cooper said.
Also on Friday, the UK pledged an additional £20 million ($25 million) to help Ukraine repair and protect its beleaguered energy infrastructure amid freezing temperatures and shortages of heat and electricity.
A year ago today, London and Kyiv signed a 100-year partnership to expand cooperation in security, defense, the economy, science, technology and culture.