6 hours ago
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Sam Francis
Political reporter
EPA
US President Donald Trump was right to re-establish links with Russian leader Vladimir Putin to set up peace talks to end the war in Ukraine, a senior Labour minister has said.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said there could be "no negotiated peace without Russia" and that Trump's approach had brought "Russians to the table".
The US president has faced a backlash for excluding Ukraine from talks after his aides met Russian officials in Saudi Arabia this week. Trump has also suggested Ukraine may be a bystander, saying it has "no cards" in the deal.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will meet Trump in Washington this week and press for Ukraine to be "at the heart" of any peace talks.
Speaking on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Phillipson said that Trump thawing diplomatic ties with Russia and Putin was "the right approach".
"President Trump has brought the Russians to the table," she added.
When asked by Kuenssberg if welcoming Putin back was the right move, Phillipson said, "absolutely".
"There can be no settlement, no negotiated peace, without Russia," she said.
She added "any lasting settlement where it comes to peace does require Ukrainian voices, President Zelensky's voice to be a central part of that.
"There can be no settlement unless we have a negotiation involving both Russia and Ukraine.
"We are however, also clear of the risk that Russian President Putin poses to our interest."
This weekend, Sir Keir assured Zelensky of the UK's "ironclad" support for Ukraine in a phone call.
His comments came ahead of a big week of diplomacy, as Sir Keir heads to the White House on Thursday shortly after French President Emmanuel Macron visits Washington on Monday.
But Sir Keir has also said Trump was right that European nations must take greater responsibility for their security and increase defence spending.
In a speech to the Scottish Labour Conference in Glasgow on Sunday, Sir Keir said "the US is right" that "we Europeans - including the United Kingdom - have to do more for our defence and security".
The UK also must stand "ready to play our role if a force is required in Ukraine once a peace agreement is reached", he said.
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