LONDON (CHATNEWSTV) — A weak peace deal with Russia would have consequences far beyond Ukraine, Britain’s Foreign and Defence Secretaries warned Friday, calling for increased Western resolve in countering Moscow’s aggression.
In a joint op-ed published in the Daily Telegraph, Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Defence Secretary John Healey argued that Russian President Vladimir Putin only responds to strength and that Western allies must remain united to ensure Ukraine’s victory.
“Putin believed that he would win his war in three days,” they wrote. “Yet the Ukrainians continue to fight with huge courage and the support of their friends.”
The ministers said previous Western failures to deter Russian aggression—citing the 2008 invasion of Georgia and the 2014 annexation of Crimea—had emboldened Moscow. They stressed that now is the time to increase pressure on the Kremlin, not seek compromise.
At a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Brussels, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to Ukraine, echoing Britain’s stance. Lammy and Healey said a strong peace must ensure Ukraine’s sovereignty and deter future Russian aggression.
“A bad peace would not only harm our security, but our economies, too,” they warned, noting that Russia’s 2022 invasion shaved 1.5% off global GDP and added 3% to European inflation.
The UK has pledged £15 billion ($19 billion) in support for Ukraine, including a newly announced £150 million ($190 million) military aid package. Britain also introduced fresh sanctions on Putin’s inner circle, marking one year since the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
While Russia’s economy is under strain, the ministers cautioned that Moscow remains “undeniably dangerous.” British naval forces are monitoring Russian warships near UK waters as they return from Syria following Moscow’s apparent retreat from supporting President Bashar al-Assad.
“We need a strong peace. A durable peace,” Lammy and Healey wrote. “That is why there must be no talks about Ukraine without Ukraine.”
The statement comes ahead of the Feb. 24 anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, a date that will mark three years of war.
“Now is the time to turn up the pressure on the Kremlin,” the ministers said. “With strength and unity, we will prevail.”
