Lord Mandelson's claim Ukraine should commit to ceasefire before Russia 'not government policy', minister says
Lord Mandelson, who was made an ambassador despite criticisms of Donald Trump, said he thought Kyiv should force Russia into a ceasefire by declaring one first.
British ambassador to the US Lord Mandelson's claim that Ukraine should commit to a ceasefire before Russia "is not government policy", a minister has told Sky News.
Peter Mandelson said on Sunday, in the wake of a heated televised meeting between Donald Trump and Volodomyr Zelenskyy, he thinks Ukraine "should be the first to commit to a ceasefire and defy the Russians to follow".
However, Armed Forces minister Luke Pollard told Wilfred Frost on Sky News Breakfast: "That's not government policy."
He said it is right Ukrainians want peace, but added: "We're still in discussions, diplomatic engagement with our European, US and Ukrainian friends as to the shape of that deal."
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Mr Pollard said it was important a peace deal is "lasting and durable" and involves European countries, but crucially with US backing to stop Russian President Vladimir Putin from renaging on it.
The minister also said he does not want a "short pause" as that would allow Ukraine to be invaded by Russia again.
https://news.sky.com/story/lord-mandelsons-claim-ukraine-should-commit-to-ceasefire-before-russia-not-government-policy-minister-says-13320651
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