Birmingham Professor warns of instability after US and Russia talk
Top Russian and American officials met in Saudi Arabia today
Top Russian and American officials met in Saudi Arabia today (18th Feb) to begin talks on improving ties and negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine.
The meeting marks another pivotal step by the Trump administration to reverse US policy on isolating Russia and is meant to pave the way for a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
European leaders were not asked to join the discussions and are due to meet instead on Monday (24th Feb) in Paris at a summit hastily arranged by the French president, as fears grow the continent is being locked out of negotiations.
What does this mean for the UK?
David Dunn, Professor in International Politics at the University of Birmingham says ‘it undermines the whole basis of how we think about European security’.
He says, ‘the Americans are indicating that any notion that the Europeans will be automatically defended by the United States is in question.’
The UK government used to say the terms of any peace deal was up to Ukraine. However, after recent events this has shifted with the new US administration.
Instead, Sir Keir will be hoping more European nations in Paris join him in offering their forces to secure a deal – and prevent Russia invading again.
David says people should expect ‘there to be calls for more defence spending, more merger capability. The creation of our larger army and these will all have a material impact on the money we have available for other things as we move towards having to rethink defence policy.’
What’s next?
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov today (18th Feb) has said that Mr Putin has repeatedly expressed readiness for peace talks, and noted that a durable settlement of the conflict in Ukraine would be impossible without "a comprehensive consideration of security issues" in Europe.
Mr Zelensky said he would travel to the United Kingdom later this week.