At the UN General Assembly, UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said the world recognises that Russia is "failing" in its war against Ukraine and urged Russian ministers to tell President Putin to end the bloodshed. He called for Moscow to return to negotiations and reaffirmed the UK's unwavering support for Ukraine. Earlier, US President Donald Trump said a deal might be possible and discussed permitting Ukraine to produce Patriot interceptors amid a reported global shortage linked to Middle East demands.
Miliband at the UN: 'The World Knows Russia Is Failing' — Urges Ministers to Tell Putin to End the Bloodshed
FILE PHOTO - British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband leaves Millbank Studios in Westminster after appearing on morning news programmes. (is associated with: «UK's Miliband: World knows Russia is 'failing' its war with Ukraine») James Manning/PA Wire/dpa
At the United Nations General Assembly in New York, UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband told delegates that the world recognises Russia is "failing in its war" against Ukraine and urged Russian ministers to be candid with President Vladimir Putin.
Speaking on Wednesday, Miliband pressed Moscow to return to negotiations and reiterated that the United Kingdom's support for Ukraine would remain steadfast.
"Four years ago, Putin expected Ukraine's supporters to fold, but our backing is rock solid," Miliband said. "Four years ago, Putin believed time would favour Russia, yet Russia's advances have all but stalled, and the number of Russian military personnel killed or wounded has passed one-and-a-half million."
Miliband added that, beyond battlefield losses, Russia's economy is suffering as the consequences of President Putin's decisions accumulate and international sanctions constrain revenue for what he called the Kremlin's "war machine." He directly appealed to Russian ministers to tell their leader the truth about the conflict and to press for an end to the bloodshed.
"The world knows that Russia is failing in this war. The Russian people can feel it, and ministers know it too. They should tell President Putin to end the bloodshed," he said. "The UK's commitment will not waver. Our allies' commitment will not waver. We stand with Ukraine now. We will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes."
Related Remarks at the UN
Earlier at the same UN session, US President Donald Trump said he believed both Russia and Ukraine wanted the conflict to end and suggested a diplomatic outcome might be possible: "I think we're going to make a deal." Trump also said the US was discussing allowing Ukraine to produce Patriot interceptor missiles to help defend itself.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Washington to supply more Patriot systems, but defence analysts warn there is currently a global shortage of such interceptors, in part because of increased demand arising from conflicts in the Middle East.
Observers say Miliband's speech aims to sustain international pressure on Moscow while keeping diplomatic channels and military support open for Kyiv.
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