UK shoots down ambassador's call for Ukraine to declare ceasefire before Russia | Politico |

Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard says U.K. "still in discussions" about the shape of any peace deal after comments by U.S. ambassador Peter Mandelson.

"The reset has to consist of the United States and Ukraine getting back on the same page, President Zelenskyy giving his unequivocal backing to the initiative that President Trump is taking to end the war and to bring a just and lasting peace to Ukraine," Mandelson said. "And the Europeans too, they need to back the calls for a ceasefire, and - by the way - I think that Ukraine should be the first to commit to a ceasefire and defy the Russians to follow."

But Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard on Monday distanced himself from Mandelson's line. "That's not government policy," he told Sky News. "We're still in discussions, diplomatic engagement, with our European, U.S. and Ukrainian friends as to the shape of that deal."

Pressed by reporters Monday on whether Mandelson had been freelancing with his remarks, Prime Minister Keir Starmer's spokesperson said: "I think the prime minister's made very clear his priorities in bringing together a small group of countries that are willing to defend the deal in Ukraine and to guarantee the peace, and that work is continuing."

The row-back comes as the U.K. tries to position itself at the head of a "coalition of the willing" of countries ready to put peace-keeping troops in Ukraine after any ceasefire deal.

However, the U.K. continues to insist American air cover and aerial support is necessary for peace to be sustainable and for Russia to be deterred from further aggression in Ukraine.