Britain will not sign up to Donald Trump's 'board of peace' on Thursday, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has confirmed, citing concerns about Russian involvement. The board, proposed by the US president, aims to oversee a ceasefire and reconstruction in Gaza, but critics view it as an alternative to the UN that could undermine existing international bodies.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Cooper stated that while the UK strongly supports Trump's 20-point plan for Gaza, it will not be one of the signatories to the legal treaty on Thursday. She explained that the treaty raises broader issues, and there are concerns about President Vladimir Putin being part of a peace initiative when he has shown no commitment to peace in Ukraine.
Cooper emphasised that Putin has demonstrated no willingness to make an agreement on Ukraine, and pressure needs to be applied there. She added that the UK will continue international discussions with allies. The Kremlin announced on Monday that Putin had been invited to join the board, with Trump claiming at Davos that Putin had accepted, though Russia is seeking to clarify the offer's nuances.
The board's founding executive board includes Trump as chair, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and World Bank President Ajay Banga. Countries such as Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, and Israel have agreed to join. Trump is due to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Davos on Thursday as talks to end the war in Ukraine continue.
