Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has stated that the UK will not sign up to US President Donald Trump's proposed Board of Peace due to concerns about Russian President Vladimir Putin's possible participation.
Cooper informed the BBC that the UK had been invited to join this initiative but won't be one of the signatories today during a ceremony at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
The foreign secretary articulated that the board represents a legal treaty that raises much broader issues than just the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. The board's charter has been perceived as an attempt to supplant some functions of the United Nations.
Countries such as Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, and Israel have agreed to join the board. Meanwhile, at Davos, Trump indicated Putin's acceptance of the invitation, although the Russian leader has yet to confirm his participation.
Cooper highlighted the UK's supportive stance regarding Trump's 20-point plan to resolve the Gaza conflict, but stressed, We won't be one of the signatories today because this is a legal treaty that raises much broader issues. She underscored concerns regarding Putin participating in peace talks while Russia's ongoing conflict in Ukraine remains unresolved.
Addressing ongoing diplomatic tensions, the UK has consistently been a strong ally of Ukraine, having signed a declaration with France indicating a willingness to deploy troops if a peace deal is reached.
The meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled for later this week, further underscoring the tensions and complexities surrounding international peace negotiations and geopolitical alliances.
