Ukraine: UK-USA Discussions

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon Excerpts

Wednesday 19th November 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

I do not think the House is with the noble Lord on his plan. He has an idea for a settlement that he has long held close to his heart and put to this Chamber on several occasions. He knows that we disagree fundamentally with one another on this issue. We believe it is for the Ukrainians to decide when the conditions are right, whether they are prepared to negotiate and on what basis. That will remain this Government’s position.

[Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con)]

My Lords, I have been in the noble Baroness’s position several times over, answering that particular question from the noble Lord. Bearing in mind the tragedy that is Ukraine, one of the real tragedies we have seen in diplomacy is the declining influence of the United Nations to convene some kind of negotiation. In this regard, alongside the United States, Turkey has played an important role. It is a NATO partner, and today President Zelensky is visiting Ankara. What direct engagement have we had with President Erdoğan and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan?

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

Sadly, the noble Lord is right in what he says about the United Nations. We are where we are. We believe the United Nations remains the single most important multilateral organisation we have, and we would be inventing it if it did not exist.

We cannot allow ourselves, because of the situation we face with the politics at the UN, to be paralysed by the truth that the noble Lord has just outlined. We are very close to all partners who are endeavouring to move this along and create some conditions and opportunities for important dialogue to take place. We speak closely with our friends and allies in Turkey and with all those others who are endeavouring, as we are, to support those who wish to see peace in Ukraine and an end to Russia’s illegal war.