22.1.2026
The United Kingdom says it will not sign up for US President Donald Trump’s proposed Board of Peace over concerns about Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s possible participation.
UK foreign minister Yvette Cooper made the clarification while speaking in Davos, Switzerland.
“There’s a huge amount of work to do, we won’t be one of the signatories today,” Cooper told BBC television from the Swiss mountain town, amid UK concerns about the inclusion of Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose forces are still fighting in Ukraine after invading in 2022.
“Because this is about a legal treaty that raises much broader issues, and we do also have concerns about President Putin being part of something which is talking about peace, when we have still not seen any signs from Putin that there will be a commitment to peace in Ukraine,” she added.
Trump on Thursday signed “Board of Peace” charter at Davos with 19 countries — including Trump allies from Argentina and Hungary — gathered on stage with Trump to put their names to the founding charter of the body.
The board, which gives Trump wide decision-making powers as chairman, is being billed by the US as a new international organisation for resolving conflicts.
Countries including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt and Israel have said they will become members of the board, and at Davos, President Trump said Putin had accepted an invitation to join the initiative.
Meanwhile, Trump has warned France that it impose a 200 percent tariffs on its wine and champagne products, if the country refuse to sign up for the Board of Peace.
Trump invited France last week to join his so-called Board of Peace, but French President Emmanuel Macron has no plans to participate, a senior official said on Monday.
Questioned by a reporter about Macron’s decision not to join the board, Trump said: “Did he say that? Well, nobody wants him because he will be out of office very soon.
“I’ll put a 200 percent tariff on his wines and champagnes, and he’ll join, but he doesn’t have to join,” Trump added. Agency reports