Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the UK would not yet join US President Donald Trump’s proposed peace committee amid concerns about Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s possible participation.
Cooper told the BBC that the UK had been invited to join the board but “will not be among the signatories today” at a planned ceremony at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
The foreign minister described the panel as “a legal treaty that raises far broader questions” than the initiative’s original focus on ending the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
The charter proposed by the White House makes no mention of the Palestinian territory and appears intended to replace some functions of the United Nations.
Countries including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt and Israel have announced plans to join the board, and in Davos, President Trump said Putin had accepted an invitation to join the initiative.
However, President Putin has not confirmed this and previously said his country was still considering the invitation.
Speaking to the BBC Breakfast show from Davos, Cooper said the UK had received an invitation to join the board and strongly supported Trump’s 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza.
“That is why we are clear that we want to make our contribution in the second phase of the Gaza peace process,” said Cooper.
However, she added: “We will not be among the signatories today as it is a legal contract that raises far broader issues.”
“And we also have concerns that President Putin might get involved in something that talks about peace when we still haven’t seen any signs from Putin that there will be a commitment to peace in Ukraine.”
She said Putin had shown no willingness “to come and make this agreement, and that’s where pressure needs to be applied now.”
“But we will continue to hold international discussions, including with our allies,” said the Foreign Minister.
Diplomatic relations between the US and Britain are faltering after Trump threatened to impose tariffs on European nations if his demand to hand over control of Greenland to his country was not met.
But Trump appears to have backtracked and said the US was exploring a possible deal on Greenland after talks with the NATO security alliance, as he dropped planned tariffs on eight European countries and ruled out using force to take the island.
Cooper welcomed the apparent withdrawal in Greenland and said the UK and its European allies had put forward “positive, constructive proposals” on Arctic security.
But when asked about the peace council, Cooper echoed the sentiments of other British Cabinet ministers who have raised concerns in recent days about Putin’s possible role in the plan, given Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
The United Kingdom has been one of Ukraine’s strongest allies, signing a memorandum of understanding with France to send troops to the country if a peace deal is reached with Russia.
As talks to end the war in Ukraine continue, President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet in Davos on Thursday.
On Wednesday, Trump reiterated his oft-stated belief that Putin and Zelensky are close to an agreement.
Trump’s peace committee was initially unveiled by the White House as part of a plan to rebuild Gaza and shape its future governance.
But the leaked text of the board’s charter goes far beyond that purpose.
The text states that the body is an “international organization” that seeks to “promote stability, restore reliable and lawful governance and ensure lasting peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict.”
The leaked document states that the peace committee’s charter will come into force once three states formally agree to be bound by it. Member states will be granted renewable three-year terms and permanent seats for those who contribute $1 billion (£740 million), it said.
The charter declared the body an international organization with a mandate to carry out peace-building functions under international law, with Trump serving as chairman – and separately as US representative – and having the power to appoint board members and establish or dissolve subsidiary bodies.
Last Friday, the White House named seven members of the founding board, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Others have since declared they will join the alliance, including Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
The Vatican announced that the Pope had also received an invitation.
