**UK Foreign Secretary Says Russia Not Serious About Negotiations**
The UK’s top diplomat, David Lammy, says London does not see any signs that Russia is ready for serious peace talks with Ukraine. He made the comment on February 5 during a visit to Kyiv.
Lammy said that Russia’s conditions for negotiations are not reasonable and would not be accepted by a sovereign country. Last June, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued an ultimatum under which Ukraine was expected to withdraw from four regions in exchange for peace talks. Moscow had declared the annexation of these regions, despite not fully occupying them.
There is growing hope that 2025 could see possible peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. US President Donald Trump has promised to broker a swift settlement, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has also expressed his desire to end the war this year.
However, Lammy emphasized that Ukraine must be in a position of strength when negotiating with Russia. He noted that the UK has been at the forefront of supplying Ukraine with military capability and will continue to do so.
The visit by Lammy comes after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged to increase military support for Ukraine this year. The UK has already committed £3 billion ($3.6 billion) for lethal aid, and a new 100-year strategic partnership agreement was signed in January between the two countries. This deal covers cooperation in various sectors, including military, energy, science, culture, economy, and others.
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