“Although we are better placed to act as a bridge than almost all other countries, there is a moment of truth to come,” said the same former ambassador quoted above. “We must decide whether we take a position against a Trump agreement or we hold with our European allies.”
For the moment, Starmer carefully avoids the question. Confined as to whether the United Kingdom could accept the Crimea concession, the British government was held on the line that the conditions for a ceasefire “can only be decided negotiations with Ukraine”.
Putin has not yet offered a substantial response to the openings of Ukraine and the United States, with her announcement of a three-day cease-fire with suspicion by kyiv and his allies.
The break proposed in hostilities is to coincide with the Russian “victory day” on May 9, which ostensibly marks their triumph over Hitler but has become a symbol of the current militarist state of Russia. EU foreign ministers should meet in Lviv, Ukraine, the same day in a demonstration of solidarity with Ukraine, perhaps joined by the British Foreign Minister David Lammy.
While time moves away without Moscow movement, Trump seems more and more frustrated by his failure to conclude an agreement during his first 100 days in power, not to mention the first 24 hours he promised.
Pfifer said: “The question will now be: is it ready to modify the course and start to adopt a more difficult approach to Russia, or is it simply blamed the two parties and moves away?”
Until and unless Trump abandons the ship, the United Kingdom seems to be locked up to give it the benefit of the doubt.
Clea Caulcutt reported in Paris.
Politices
