At the UN Security Council, the United Kingdom said it supports US-led efforts to secure a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, aligned with the principles of the UN Charter and backed by robust security guarantees. The statement referenced talks in London hosted by the Prime Minister with President Zelenskyy, President Macron and Chancellor Merz, reaffirming long‑term support for Ukraine’s security, sovereignty and prosperity.
The UK delegation argued that President Putin initiated the war and could end it by ceasing Russia’s full‑scale invasion. While expressing hope that Moscow would engage seriously in peace talks, the statement said Russia’s campaign had intensified despite third‑party mediation.
Detailing recent strikes, the UK told the Council that between 18 November and 4 December Russia launched nearly 3,000 drones and more than 110 missiles at Ukrainian cities. It said this pattern is incompatible with claims of good‑faith engagement in negotiations.
On a ceasefire, the statement recalled Ukraine’s offer of an immediate and unconditional ceasefire on 11 March, which it said Russia rejected. Since then, the UK reported that over 1,850 Ukrainian civilians have been killed, and that since peace talks began in May Russia has conducted the largest air attacks of the entire war.
The humanitarian assessment drew on UN reporting that an estimated 12.7 million people in Ukraine require assistance this year. The UK argued that continued strikes both cause civilian casualties and deepen an already acute humanitarian crisis.
Energy infrastructure featured prominently. Since the start of October, the UK said Russia has carried out nine mass air attacks on Ukraine’s power system, reducing generation capacity by about 40 percent and triggering nationwide blackouts lasting up to 16 hours. The statement described this as the weaponisation of winter against vulnerable civilians.
Reiterating alignment with Washington and Kyiv, the UK said it supports efforts led by the United States and involving President Trump and President Zelenskyy to secure a just and durable peace. It urged Russia to accept a ceasefire and engage seriously with negotiations.
Analysis: The statement did not set out new UK programmes or timelines. It signals continuity in policy-sustained military, economic and humanitarian support for Ukraine, close co‑ordination with allies on air defence and energy resilience, and a diplomatic track tied to credible security guarantees.
Analysis: By anchoring its position in the UN Charter, the UK indicates that any settlement must reflect sovereignty and territorial integrity. For practitioners, the emphasis on security guarantees suggests that verification, monitoring and accountability measures will be central to making any ceasefire durable, rather than a pause that invites renewed attacks.