The United Kingdom has decided not to sign up to U.S. President Donald Trump’s newly launched “Board of Peace” initiative, citing serious concerns over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s potential involvement and broader legal and geopolitical implications. The announcement came from UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where Trump unveiled the peace project aimed at overseeing ceasefire and reconstruction efforts in Gaza.
Cooper stated that the UK “will not be one of the signatories today” despite supporting parts of Trump’s plan to bring stability to the region. She emphasized that Moscow’s participation in any peace initiative must be linked to a genuine commitment to ending the war in Ukraine, which she said has not yet been demonstrated. The UK government also noted that the treaty underlying the board carries wider diplomatic and legal consequences, and signing it prematurely could pose significant challenges.
The Board of Peace, launched by Trump in Davos, is intended as an international mechanism to resolve conflicts and assist in post-war reconstruction. The board’s charter includes former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and other senior advisers, with Trump claiming that Putin has accepted an invitation to participate. However, Russia has indicated that it is still considering the proposal.
The UK is not alone in its hesitation. Other European countries, including France, Sweden, and Norway, have also expressed reluctance to join the board due to concerns about Putin’s role and the initiative’s unclear relationship with established institutions like the United Nations. Domestically, the UK’s decision has drawn mixed reactions: supporters praise the principled stance regarding Russia, while critics warn that refusing to engage could reduce Western influence in shaping post-conflict outcomes. Trump, meanwhile, continues to promote the board as a new force for peace capable of delivering results beyond existing multilateral frameworks.
While the board moves forward with participating countries at Davos, the UK government has indicated it will continue discussions with allies on how best to support peace efforts in Gaza and Ukraine without formally committing to Trump’s initiative at this stage.
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