UK Declines Trump’s Board of Peace Invitation Amid Putin Concerns

Fri Jan 23 2026 05:30:10 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The UK refrains from signing President Trump's Board of Peace treaty due to apprehensions over Vladimir Putin's involvement amid ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper announced that the UK will not join President Trump's proposed Board of Peace at the World Economic Forum in Davos, voicing concerns regarding Vladimir Putin's potential role. While several nations including Saudi Arabia and Turkey have agreed to join, the UK emphasizes the need for more assurance of peace from Russia, particularly in Ukraine. The board purportedly aims to establish a regulatory framework differing from traditional UN roles in conflict resolution.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has said the UK will not yet be signing up to US President Donald Trump's proposed Board of Peace due to concerns about Russian leader Vladimir Putin's possible participation.

Cooper informed the BBC that although the UK had been invited to the board, we won't be one of the signatories today at a planned ceremony at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

The foreign secretary described the board as a legal treaty that raises much broader issues than the initiative's initial focus on ending the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

The charter proposed by the White House does not mention the Palestinian territory and appears to be designed to replace some functions of the United Nations.

Countries including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, and Israel have indicated they would join the board, and at Davos, President Trump stated that Putin had accepted an invitation to join the initiative.

However, Putin has not confirmed this, stating earlier that his country is still examining the invitation.

In her BBC Breakfast appearance from Davos, Cooper reiterated the UK's strong support for Trump's 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza, but expressed reservations regarding signing the agreement, especially considering Putin's involvement while his military actions continue in Ukraine.

We won't be one of the signatories today because this is a legal treaty that raises much broader issues, she stated, emphasizing the need for assurances of peace commitments from Putin.

In the backdrop of potentially strained diplomatic relations due to Trump’s earlier tariffs threats against Europe, Cooper welcomed Trump's reconsideration regarding Greenland's sovereignty discussions, viewing the shift as positive for security collaboration in the Arctic region.

With ongoing humanitarian concerns, the UK is determined to remain engaged in international dialogues even as they navigate these complex geopolitical landscapes.

As peace talks evolve, Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are set to meet to discuss various issues related to the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.