Britain’s US ambassador to the US Lord Mandelson was trying to court Donald Trump’s supporters when he seemingly went against government policy to suggest how Ukraine could win American support for a peace deal, some in diplomatic circles believe.
Mandelson – an architect of New Labour under Tony Blair and the first political appointment to the ambassadorship for 50 years – was slapped down by a minister for his comments on Monday.
Britain’s man in Washington DC suggested in an interview on Sunday that Ukraine should commit to a ceasefire before Russia and urged Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky to give his “unequivocal backing” to Donald Trump’s peace initiative.
He also called on Zelensky to sign up to a mineral deal with the US.
But asked about Mandelson’s remarks in the interview with ABC, Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard said they were “not Government policy”.
Downing Street refused to say whether Sir Keir Starmer had given the Labour grandee, who was already a controversial appointment, a dressing down.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said Starmer had made “very clear” his priorities, including working with European allies on a peace plan to present to Trump and attempt to get his backing for a US backstop to ensure any ceasefire holds.
Despite the slapdown, The i Paper understands that some in senior diplomatic circles believe Mandelson was attempting to speak to the Trump-supporting so-called “Maga” audience in America to try and reassure them he understands their views after they opposed his appointment.
Lord Mandelson said that a “very radical reset” was needed following the explosive Oval Office row between Trump and Zelensky, in which the US President claimed his Ukrainian counterpart was “gambling with World War Three” by refusing to fully back the highly controversial American plan to bring peace with Ukraine.
“The reset has to consist of the United States and Ukraine getting back on the same page, President Zelensky giving his unequivocal backing to the initiative that President Trump is taking to end the war and to bring a just and lasting peace to Ukraine,” Mandelson told ABC.
“And the Europeans too, they need to back the calls for a ceasefire, and – by the way – I think that Ukraine should be the first to commit to a ceasefire and defy the Russians to follow.”
His remarks came as Zelensky was visiting London for a meeting of 18 European nations to discuss peace. He later met the King at Sandringham as the UK sought to show him support.
King Charles met President Zelensky in Sandringham, Norfolk in a show of support. (Photo by Joe Giddens – WPA Pool/Getty Images)Asked whether Lord Mandelson’s remarks reflected Government policy, Pollard told Sky News: “No. It’s certainly right that Ukrainians want peace. I think of all the people on our continent that want peace, the Ukrainians want it the most.
“But we’re still in discussions, diplomatic engagement with our European, US and Ukrainian friends as to the shape of that deal.
“But it’s certainly right that the war could stop tomorrow if President Putin stopped his illegal and unprovoked aggression. He could stop this war.”
Asked whether Mandelson misspoke, he said: “That’s not Government policy.”
Addressing Mandelson’s comments in the Commons, Starmer said his plan was “clear”.
“We’re working, particularly with the French, I’ve had extensive conversations with president Macron over the last week, intensively over the weekend, talking to Ukraine as well, those are going on at the moment.
“The intention is to then have discussions with the United States in relation to that plan. So as soon as the details are available, I will share them with the House but they are still being worked on at the moment, there’s no guarantee of success, but I’m not going to let up until we’ve done everything we can to ensure peace in Europe and peace for Ukraine.”
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Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said: “What is Mandelson up to? You cannot square what the Prime Minister said this morning with this. What is the Government’s actual position?
“Our man in DC should be securing US protection for our brave Ukrainian allies, not telling President Zelensky what to do.”
Conservative former foreign secretary James Cleverly said: “The UK ambassador to Washington isn’t meant to communicate his own opinion, he is meant to communicate the UK government opinion.
“Lammy and Starmer need to grip this.”
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