UK opposes talks with Putin: No sign he wants peace

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has said that the UK does not support the idea put forward by the leaders of France and Italy to resume direct talks with Russian ruler Vladimir Putin.

"I think what we need is evidence that Putin actually wants peace and at the moment, I'm still not seeing that,"  Cooper said in an interview with Politico.

Cooper emphasised that the centre of diplomatic efforts remains in Ukraine and its closest allies.

"What we've seen is the huge commitment to work being done by Ukraine, with the US and supported by Europe to draw up plans for peace including security guarantees. But so far, I don't see the evidence that Putin is yet willing to come to the table, or yet willing to have discussions," she said.

Cooper added that for this reason, pressure on Moscow must continue to be increased through sanctions and military support.

"I think we've still got to be ready alongside this really important work to put increased pressure, economic pressure, and also through the military support to Ukraine, that military pressure on Russia as well," Cooper added.

In mid-December, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Europe must find a way to engage directly with Putin. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni agreed with Macron's position.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he is not against European countries holding direct talks with Russia.

However, the idea of talks with Putin was not welcomed in Moscow.