UK's PM is arguing against the Ukraine conflict
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UK Boris Johnson warns against any peace agreements in Ukraine while warning that the conflict could last years.
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UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson
On Sunday, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson argued once more against putting an end to the conflict in Ukraine, claiming that a peace agreement would give Russian President Vladimir Putin more leverage.
"The Prime Minister stressed any attempt to settle the conflict now will only cause enduring instability and give Putin license to manipulate both sovereign countries and international markets in perpetuity," his office said.
Johnson discussed Ukraine with French President Emmanuel Macron ahead of the Group of Seven summit in Germany. The leaders agreed to increase military assistance to Ukraine in order to "turn the tide" in the conflict.
Read next: UK gov't to announce $375m package of military aid to Ukraine
"Both the Prime Minister and President Macron stressed the need to support Ukraine to strengthen their hand in both the war and any future negotiations," Downing Street said.
Johnson has repeatedly criticized European efforts to end the conflict as soon as possible, arguing that Kiev should not accept a "bad peace." This week, Russian Ambassador to the United Kingdom Andrei Kelin accused London of ignoring Ukraine's economic woes.
A few days ago, Johnson said that the economic effects of the conflict in Europe might put pressure on Ukraine to reach a peace agreement with Russia that is not in its best interests.
"Too many countries are saying this is a European war that is unnecessary... and so the pressure will grow to encourage - coerce, maybe - the Ukrainians to a bad peace," Johnson told news anchors in the Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, where he attended a Commonwealth summit.
Read next: Ukraine must find a diplomatic solution: US officials
![In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had "engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)](https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2024/12/21/b4a69f2e-8682-43e4-9d37-49482b304ab3/3.png?v=2&format=webp "In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had \"engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)")
