The United Kingdom will not participate in Donald Trump’s Peace Board due to the invitation extended to Vladimir Putin. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper expressed reservations about the inclusion of the Russian leader in the US President’s initiative aimed at resolving the Israel-Hamas conflict. Cooper emphasized that the UK has concerns about Putin’s involvement in a peace dialogue, particularly given the absence of clear peace commitments from him regarding Ukraine.
Despite this, the UK fully endorses Trump’s comprehensive 20-point peace plan for the Middle East. There are additional worries about the participation of Alexander Lukashenko, the authoritarian leader of Belarus, amid fears that oppressive rulers could influence the region’s future.
Trump intends to present his peace proposals at the World Economic Forum in Davos. While the Kremlin is evaluating the invitation to join the board, Trump asserted that Putin had accepted the offer, despite ongoing consultations by Moscow with its strategic partners.
Several countries, including the UAE, Bahrain, Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Morocco, and Vietnam, have already signed up. France announced its decision not to participate, leading Trump to threaten trade tariffs on French products.
The UK government remains cautious about Putin’s potential involvement, while the Russian leader indicated that Moscow is consulting with its allies before making a final decision.