Ukraine-Russia war live: Trump right to speak with Putin says UK minister as Moscow launches huge drone attack
US president Donald Trump was right to pick up the phone and speak with Vladimir Putin, a UK minister has admitted.
Bridget Phillipson said it was good Trump has brought the Russians to the negotiating table, but warned there could be no settlement without Ukraine taking part in peace talks.
Washington had not spoken with the Kremlin since Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 before Mr Trump took office in January this year.
“[It] is the right approach [that] President Trump has brought the Russians to the table, but any lasting settlement when it comes to peace does require Ukrainian voices,” Ms Phillipson said.
British prime minister Sir Keir Starmer vowed to uphold the UK’s “ironclad support” for Ukraine – using a phrase popularised by former US president Joe Biden – ahead of talks with Donald Trump next week.
Sir Keir reiterated his “commitment to securing a just and enduring peace to bring an end to Russia’s illegal war”, a Downing Street spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, Putin’s forces have launched their largest drone attack of the nearly three-year-long war, according to Kyiv’s air force.
Russian troops fired 267 drones at Ukraine in an overnight attack, striking five regions of Ukraine, Kyiv’s authorities said.
