Britain and France have developed an unexpected alliance, overcoming past Brexit-related tensions to collaborate on global security. As leaders of Europe’s two nuclear-armed nations, they have worked together to mediate between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, encouraging both sides toward a diplomatic resolution. They have shared ideas, hosted meetings in Paris and London, and maintained a cooperative approach. A French official recently praised UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, saying he was handling negotiations with Trump effectively.
British officials believed Zelenskyy needed to smooth over tensions with Trump, and the Ukrainian president ultimately agreed. In a letter viewed by some as an apology, he expressed his willingness to work toward peace under Trump’s “strong leadership” and described their previous disagreements as “regrettable.”
Key to this reconciliation effort was Britain’s National Security Adviser, Jonathan Powell. A former chief of staff to Tony Blair, Powell has extensive experience in high-stakes negotiations, having played a crucial role in securing the Northern Ireland peace accord in the 1990s.
Last week, Starmer assigned Powell to help bridge the gap between Ukraine and the U.S., according to sources familiar with the process. Powell worked closely with his American counterpart, Mike Waltz, while also maintaining direct contact with French and German officials.
Time was critical. A scheduled diplomatic meeting between U.S. and Ukrainian representatives in Saudi Arabia on March 11 presented what could be the last real opportunity for a ceasefire.
Over the weekend, Powell traveled to Kyiv, where he met with Zelenskyy and his chief of staff, Andriy Yermak. Together, they worked on drafting an agreement they hoped the U.S. and Ukraine would sign in the coming days to bring the conflict closer to resolution.
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