Ukraine's youngest MP has warned that Russian promises "aren't worth the paper they're signed on" amid discussions of potential peace talks between Moscow and Washington.
Sviatoslav Yurash, from President Zelensky's Servant of the People party, pointed to Russia's past actions in the UK, including chemical poisonings of dissidents, as evidence of Moscow's unreliability.
"We saw that many times over with everything that Russia has done in the United Kingdom, with the chemical poisonings here on your territory of various dissidents of Russia and many other actions, plutonium being the least of them," Yurash told GB News.
His comments at this year's Arc Conference in east London come as US and Russian officials prepare for talks in Saudi Arabia, with neither European nor Ukrainian delegations set to attend.
Sviatoslav Yurash spoke to GB News at this year's Arc Conference
Reuters/GB News
Yurash welcomed Prime Minister Keir Starmer's announcement that British troops could be deployed to Ukraine to enforce any peace deal.
"For us to hear that UK will send by our side, it is what comes can be, and it's a symbol for other nations that are pondering that action they can join in and not be a lone voice there," he told GB News.
The comments follow Starmer's declaration that Britain is "ready and willing" to contribute troops on the ground in Ukraine if necessary.
The Prime Minister made the announcement ahead of today's emergency summit in Paris, where European leaders are meeting to discuss Ukraine's security.
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Sviatoslav Yurash is seen at a street with his weapon to defend Kyiv
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Starmer wrote in The Telegraph that he "deeply" felt the responsibility of potentially putting British service personnel in harm's way.
"Any role in helping to guarantee Ukraine's security is helping to guarantee the security of our continent, and the security of this country," he said. The Prime Minister committed £3 billion a year until 2030 for Ukraine's defence and security.
The Paris summit was called after Donald Trump's push for a deal with Vladimir Putin and fears the US might reduce its defence commitments in Europe.
European leaders from Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands and Denmark are attending alongside EU and NATO representatives.
Yurash expressed support for increased Western defence spending, telling GB News that "you will find no greater ally than Ukraine" in encouraging Nato nations to boost their military budgets.
His comments align with growing concerns about European security capabilities.
The Ukrainian MP backed calls for Western nations to "get its act together" in defending fundamental values. The discussions come as US officials prepare for talks with Russian counterparts in Saudi Arabia.
