The United Kingdom has called on Russia to demonstrate its commitment to peace by immediately accepting a U.S.- proposed unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine, following Kyiv’s agreement to the terms.
Speaking at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna today, UK Ambassador Neil Holland commended Ukraine’s willingness to halt hostilities without preconditions, contrasting it with Moscow’s continued refusal.
“We all want to see an end to the fighting and an enduring peace in Ukraine,” Holland stated. “Under President Zelenskyy’s leadership, Ukraine has shown it is the party of peace. They have proposed a full, immediate, and unconditional ceasefire – with the sole condition that Russia agrees too. To date, Russia has not.”
The ambassador criticized Moscow for attaching obstructive conditions to negotiations and maintaining military operations that “continue to kill and injure innocent civilians at an unrelenting pace.” He urged the Kremlin to prove its sincerity by honoring past agreements, including the Geneva Conventions, which Russia has repeatedly violated since its 2022 full-scale invasion.
Holland also condemned Russia’s earlier restrictions on the OSCE’s Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) in Ukraine, which operated from 2014 until 2022. He highlighted the deaths of two monitors and the ongoing detention of three SMM staff – Vadym Golda, Maxim Petrov, and Dmytro Shabanov – as evidence of Moscow’s disregard for international norms.
“The longer President Putin delays agreeing to end this illegal war, the more innocent lives will be lost,” Holland warned, reiterating that the conflict remains a breach of the UN Charter and the Helsinki Final Act.
The UK’s statement reinforces Western pressure on Moscow amid stalled diplomatic efforts, including recent talks in Riyadh.
For further updates on international diplomacy, visit London Pluse News.
