London: The United Kingdom is advising Ukraine on holding talks with the United States in Saudi Arabia to avoid a new row between the Ukrainian and US sides, British newspaper The Times reported.
The White House previously confirmed that consultations with both sides of the conflict were ongoing, and a new meeting on peace issues is planned for this week in Saudi Arabia.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s national security adviser Jonathan Powell traveled to Ukraine over the weekend to give Volodymyr Zelenskyy instructions before his country’s representatives take part in talks with the United States on Tuesday, in order to avoid a repeat of the disastrous conflict in the Oval Office with Donald Trump, the publication said.
Starmer’s adviser, according to the publication, recommended that Zelenskyy make it clear to the Americans that he was responding to Washington’s requests so that US President Donald Trump would get the impression that “Russia is the main obstacle to peace.”
Moscow has repeatedly indicated that it was ready for negotiations on Ukraine, but Kiev has introduced a ban on them at the legislative level. In October 2022, Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree prohibiting negotiations with the Russian leadership.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a meeting with permanent members of the Russian Security Council in January, stated that the goal of resolving the conflict in Ukraine should not be a short truce and a respite for regrouping forces and rearmament with the aim of subsequently continuing the conflict, but long-term peace.
According to Putin, the Russian authorities will continue to fight for the interests of the Russian people, this is the meaning of the special operation. Peace in Ukraine, Putin noted, should be based on “respect for the legitimate interests of all people, all nations living in this region.”
