PM not ‘reading too much’ into Ukraine peace talks and urges focus on ceasefire

Detailed summary

The Prime Minister promised Volodymyr Zelensky his ‘complete support’ in helping end the war in Ukraine.

Andy Burnham has warned against reading “too much into” US-brokered Ukraine peace talks in Abu Dhabi, and said the focus must remain on a ceasefire rather than security arrangements.

The Prime Minister promised Volodymyr Zelensky his “complete support” in the latest efforts to end the Ukraine war, and said he would push for European representation in the negotiations.

UK national security adviser Jonathan Powell will join the Ukrainian president’s meeting with Donald Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Dublin, Mr Burnham said.

Mr Zelensky had indicated he expected to be updated by Mr Witkoff and Jared Kushner following their talks with Vladimir Putin in Moscow in which they discussed the peace efforts in Abu Dhabi.

Speaking to reporters at the European Political Community summit in Dublin, Mr Burnham said: “Clearly it’s progress that talks are taking place, but I think it would be premature to read too much into them.

“The feeling here today is that we must continue to back up President Zelensky in any way we can support him in this process.

“It’s got to be about a ceasefire in Ukraine, rather than the issues Russia wants to put on the table around security arrangements in Europe.”

He added: “Today, Britain has confirmed more sanctions on Russian oil companies, to the point now where all of the top 10 oil companies in Russia are sanctioned by Britain.

“We are continuing to take practical action to prevent Putin’s war machine being funded.

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