UK claims an early peace deal with Russia could be destructive for Ukraine in long run

Amid ongoing war in Ukraine, United Kingdom raised concerns that some of its allies could force war-torn country to settle and make significant concessions in peace talks with Russia, Times reported on Friday. According to media report, it is possible that United States, France and Germany could force Ukraine to secure an early peace deal that could be destructive for Kyiv in long run. Citing its sources in UK government office, British newspaper learnt that senior UK officials are now concerned about position of some of its closest allies and asserted "a settlement should be reached only when Kyiv is in strongest possible position".

"Some of our allies may be too eager for Zelenskyy to settle. We think Ukraine needs to be in strongest possible position militarily before those talks can take place," Times quoted a government official as saying.  

Besides government officials, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, during a telephonic conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, h raised similar concerns, according to Times. report said that Johnson h even warned Zelenskyy that Russian President Vlimir Putin was a liar and a bully who could use peace talks that could favour Moscow. On or hand, report said that Ukrainian President also echoed a similar position and ded that it could be possible that Putin could use chance to exploit Kyiv furr.  

According to a senior UK government official, Putin could use peace talks to make significant concessions on sanctions.  Meanwhile, on Tuesday, sixth rounds of talks were held between Russian and Ukrainian delegations with lots of hopes to end war immediately. Though Moscow, on Tuesday, claimed that talks were constructive, Kremlin claimed re was no breakthrough. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was a “positive factor” that Ukraine has submitted its written proposals but ded he saw no breakthrough. On Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered to host a meeting between Ukrainian and Russian leers during a telephonic conversation with Ukrainian President. However, re were no constructive replies came from Putin's side.  

Russia-Ukraine war

Russia initiated a full-fledged war against Ukraine nearly two days after Russian President Vlimir Putin signed a decree recognising independence of breakaway regions Donetsk and Luhansk. Putin's action came despite West's repetitive warning and speculations about his ill intention to inve Ukraine. On February 24, Russian troops started a military operation against Ukraine. Since n, it has been bombarding several cities in Ukraine, resulting in killing of thousands of civilians. On Friday, Zelenskyy appealed to his Russian counterpart to end war immediately but ded that he would not let Russian forces take a single piece of Ukrainian land. 

Image: AP