Britain takes key role to help Ukraine in peace talks with US

Britain has taken the lead in advising Ukraine how to handle the US during peace talks in Saudi Arabia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hugs a child during an awards ceremony in Kyiv. Picture: AFP / Ukrainian Presidential Press Service

Britain is advising Ukraine on handling peace talks with the United States as President Volodymyr Zelensky flies out to Saudi Arabia after saying that Russia had carried out hundreds of attacks on his people in the past week.

Jonathan Powell, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s national security adviser, travelled to Ukraine over the weekend to brief Mr Zelensky before his country’s representatives attend the talks with the US on Tuesday, to avoid a repeat of the disastrous Oval Office row with President Donald Trump.

Sir Keir is also attempting to convince Mr Trump to resume intelligence sharing with Ukraine, after last week’s abrupt shut-off that could hinder Kyiv’s ability to defend its cities from Russian strikes.

“Throughout this week, Russia has carried out hundreds of attacks against our people using various types of weapons,” Mr Zelensky said on Monday, describing the munitions as “1200 guided aerial bombs, nearly 870 attack drones, and over 80 missiles of different types”.

In what may have been a reference to the end of American support, especially in helping Ukraine shoot down aerial threats, Mr Zelensky added: “Every day, we work with our partners to ensure that decisions are made to provide life-saving support: air defence systems, investments in our defence production, and the strengthening of sanctions against Russia.”

Britain believes there is hope that Mr Trump can be persuaded to reverse his decision on intelligence sharing, seen as a more urgent and feasible request than a resumption of military aid, which the US has also suspended.

Over the weekend Sir Keir spoke to French President Emmanuel Macron and Mark Rutte, the NATO secretary-general, who will travel to Washington this week, about the need to resume intelligence sharing with Kyiv. Mr Powell has also been pressing the case with Mike Waltz, Mr Trump’s national security adviser.

Ukraine’s President was to fly to Saudi Arabia on Monday for a meeting with the nation’s leader, Mohammed bin Salman, before talks between Ukrainian and American officials. Mr Zelensky himself will not attend talks but his chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, will be a part of the Ukrainian delegation. Britain is not expected to be part of the talks.

Mr Powell is said to be advising Mr Zelensky to make clear Russia is the obstacle to peace. “We continue our efforts to bring a just peace closer and ensure reliable security guarantees,” Mr Zelensky wrote on social media. Mr Trump on Sunday (Monday AEDT) said that Ukraine might lose its war with Russia, even with American support.

“Well, it may not survive anyway,” Mr Trump said of Ukraine. He told Fox Business this could be the case even with full-blown backing for Kyiv from Washington.

“We have some weaknesses with Russia,” Mr Trump added. “It takes two. Look, it was not going to happen – that war and it happened. So now we’re stuck with this mess.”

Admiral Tony Radakin, Britain’s chief of the defence staff, will meet military leaders from Sie Keir’s “coalition of the willing” in Paris on Tuesday as the British Prime Minister seeks to convince more countries to join. Australia said over the weekend it would consider committing troops to a peacekeeping force in Ukraine if peace talks are successful. Canada, Turkey and Norway have also signalled willingness to take part.

Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State, was to fly to Jeddah on Monday for talks “to advance the President’s goal to end the Russia-Ukraine war”, his spokesman said, departing from the terminology of an “invasion” preferred by the previous administration.

Elon Musk, the Trump adviser and billionaire, said earlier that Ukraine’s “entire front line would collapse” if he turned off Starlink, his satellite internet firm, prompting a diplomatic row.

THE TIMES