British Government Counsels Ukrainian Officials Ahead of Talks with US Delegation in Saudi Arabia, Reports The Times.
According to the newspaper, Jonathan Powell, the national security advisor to the British Prime Minister, traveled to Ukraine over the weekend and advised President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on how to conduct the negotiations with the US delegation. Powell also had a phone call with Mike Waltz, the national security advisor to the US President and advocated for the resumption of the exchange of intelligence information between Washington and Kiev.
The Times further reports that Powell recommended to Zelenskyy that the negotiations with the US be conducted in a way that makes Russia appear as an obstacle to peace. He also suggested that the US delegation be made clear that Kiev is “moving towards the US demands.” This, it is believed, would give US President Donald Trump the impression that Russia is the real obstacle to a solution of the conflict.
According to the report, the UK is trying to avoid a repetition of the situation that occurred at a meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump in the White House.
London believes it is more likely that the US government under Donald Trump will reverse the suspension of the exchange of intelligence information rather than resume arms deliveries to Ukraine, the newspaper says. This topic was also discussed in a conversation between the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who is scheduled to visit Washington in the coming days.
On March 4, Zelenskyy proposed a ceasefire at sea, an end to attacks on energy infrastructure and a prisoner exchange. According to Sky News, he had consulted with Starmer before this initiative. Andrei Kelenin, the Russian Ambassador to London, stated in an interview with Sky News on March 6 that Russia is ready for peace talks on Ukraine, but will not accept a short-term ceasefire.
Earlier, US Special Envoy Steven Witkoff had announced that he would meet with Ukrainian officials in Jidda on March 11 to discuss the framework for a possible ceasefire and peace agreement. Zelenskyy will not participate in this meeting. According to Fox News, the US delegation will consist of US Foreign Minister Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, while the Ukrainian delegation will be led by Andrei Yermak, Head of the Presidential Office, Foreign Minister Andrei Sibiga and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.