UK PM opposes Ukraine ceasefire that does not satisfy Western demands

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
23 May 2023 00:23

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that a ceasefire is not a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks at a press conference at the International Conference Centre during the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, western Japan, Sunday May 21, 2023 (Stefan Rousseau/Pool Photo via AP)

On Monday, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that he opposes any peace initiative for a ceasefire in Ukraine that does not entail a complete Russian withdrawal.

"The right and only response to that [Ukrainian conflict] is for Russia to withdraw its forces from Ukraine. And all plans masquerading as peace plans that are in fact attempts just to freeze the conflict where it is are absolutely wrong," Sunak said in the UK's Parliament after Jeremy Corbyn, former leader of the Labour Party had asked Sunak to comment on the ceasefire initiative proposed by South Africa and condoned by the UN Secretary-General and the pope.

"A ceasefire is not a just and lasting peace for Ukraine," Sunak stated.

Last week, the Russian and Ukrainian Presidents agreed to meet with a delegation of African leaders to discuss a possible peace deal to the Ukrainian crisis, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have both agreed to receive the African delegation in Moscow and Kiev respectively, according to the statement. While the leaders of Senegal, Uganda, Egypt, the Republic of Congo, and Zambia have joined in on the African mission.