UK Ambassador Martin Harris: Russia offers no signals for a just world.

On the end of the war and Ukraine's accession to NATO, Zelensky's victory plan and the "centennial agreement", the sentiments of the British, and the Ukrainian language – read and watch the extensive interview with the British Ambassador to Ukraine, Martin Harris, for RBC-Ukraine.

The coming weeks and months could potentially provide answers to several key questions related to the war: Will it end by 2025? Under what conditions? Will Ukraine receive an invitation, and subsequently membership in NATO? In what format will this occur?

These questions were posed by RBC-Ukraine to Martin Harris, the ambassador of one of our key allies – the United Kingdom. In his responses, Harris was diplomatically cautious. For instance, he refrained from "speculating" on the possibility of a "hybrid" accession of Ukraine to NATO.

The ambassador consistently emphasized that peace must be "just" and "lasting" in any case. He also referred to the upcoming elections in the USA – as the policies of the new White House administration will significantly influence the modalities for ending the war. "We will stand by Ukraine throughout the entire process of administration change in Washington," Harris assured RBC-Ukraine.

It is worth noting that at the ambassador's insistence, we communicated exclusively in Ukrainian – a language Harris began learning twenty years ago during his first diplomatic assignment in Ukraine.

Next – the full video interview with Ambassador Harris and a slightly condensed text version of the conversation.

– Why do you think there has been so much talk lately about the so-called negotiated peace, meaning a peace achieved through negotiations?

– First and foremost, I would like to say that we support the main principle that peace must be just and lasting for Ukraine. Recently, our Prime Minister met with the leaders of the USA, Germany, and France, and there was a common position that a just peace must be established in Ukraine.

Unfortunately, Russia continues its aggression against Ukraine. Russia gives no signals of a just peace. We need to support Ukraine’s initiatives through both military and diplomatic measures to achieve this just peace.

– Do you believe that this peace can be achieved if Russia does not voluntarily withdraw from Ukraine one day?

– I think it is absolutely important not only for Ukraine but for the entire world. Because there are fundamental principles of the UN Charter, which include territorial integrity and the sovereignty of independent states. We support Zelensky's peace plan because it is based on these fundamental principles of the UN Charter. These principles are not only about the security of Ukraine, but also about the security of Europe, and the security of the entire world.

The fact that nearly 100 countries were present at the peace summit in Switzerland indicates global support for these UN principles, and this should be the foundation for a just peace here in Ukraine.

– However, it cannot be said that there is truly universal support for the peace formula, peace summits, as there are many influential players, such as China, who have a vision that differs significantly from ours. Do you think these countries could sway the Global South, possibly even some European countries as well?

– I think all such countries should adhere to the UN Charter and its main principles.

We have discussed this in our dialogue with China, India, and all members of the G20. And this is our position – support for Ukraine's peace plan.

There is also the main principle that there cannot be a discussion about peace for Ukraine without Ukraine. Therefore, I believe that through such diplomatic pressure, together with military pressure, we can influence Russia's position and achieve a just peace for Ukraine and security for Europe as a whole.

– You mentioned Zelensky's victory plan. Is this victory plan sufficient for Ukraine to win?

– I believe this is a plan for a just peace. I think it is correct for President Zelensky to devise a new strategy aimed at convincing Russia that military actions will not be effective.

I am very pleased that we had the chance, when President Zelensky was in London, to discuss with him, along with Prime Minister Starmer and the new NATO Secretary General, these main principles. And that we can now have a common strategy because we agree with the goal of the president's victory plan; we need to strengthen Ukraine's position by the end of the year.

A new administration will soon be in place in the USA, and we would like Ukraine to be in a strong position both militarily and diplomatically, as well as economically, by that time. Thus, through cooperation with our partners, we are strengthening support for Ukraine.

– President Zelensky says that it is possible to end the war by the end of 2025 with a just peace. Numerous Western media have also been writing a lot about the war concluding next year. In your understanding, is it realistic to actually end the war in 2025?

– I think everyone here in Ukraine wants this terrible war to end as soon as possible. And we also support Ukraine until victory and after victory. I know that the position of the new US administration is also important, and we will stand by Ukraine throughout the entire process of administration change in Washington.

I believe there is no country closer to the USA than the United Kingdom. And probably, there is no country closer to Ukraine than the United Kingdom. We will be alongside Ukraine when we discuss with the new administration how to strengthen Ukraine's position to achieve a just peace.

– You pay a lot of attention to the upcoming elections in the USA. In your opinion, could this change of administration lead to a radical shift in positions, the balance of power regarding the war? Is it possible that after the change of administration, Europe, and the UK in particular, will have to take on a greater role in issues related to Ukraine?

– This process is ongoing now, as Europe, together with the USA and all countries, must strengthen support for Ukraine.

And today I want to say that there is new support for Ukraine, based on the main principle that Russia must pay. Today, the British government announced a new loan to Ukraine of £2.26 billion, equivalent to $3 billion, which will be funded by revenues from frozen Russian assets. Ukraine does not pay for this loan; Russia pays. And the British amount, our amount, will go into Ukraine's military budget, meaning it will result in more air defense, more artillery.

Through this mechanism, Russia indirectly pays for Ukraine's defense, providing new capabilities for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This is the British contribution, but we also expect similar decisions from all our partners in the G7, and the total amount of such assistance to Ukraine will reach $50 billion. This is significant support for the upcoming year, to strengthen Ukraine's position and apply the principle that Russia must pay.

– In your opinion, can there be a stable and lasting peace in which one side, Ukraine, or both sides remain extremely dissatisfied, feeling they have not achieved their goals? Would such a peace last long, or would it be a short truce with a second round, a third round?

– I do not want to speculate, because the main thing is that Ukraine must decide the future of Ukraine. The foundation lies in the independence of Ukraine, the sovereignty of Ukraine.

But I understand why it is very important in Ukraine for peace to be sustainable. We know that this war did not start two or three years ago, but ten years ago. And that here in Ukraine and for security in Europe, peace must be just and sustainable.

– The leadership of the United Kingdom regularly communicates with the Ukrainian leadership. Is it true that many Western media report that Ukraine seems to have become somewhat more accommodating regarding the end of the war recently?

– Right now, Ukraine and the Ukrainian government are focused on President Zelensky's victory plan. And this is a topic of discussions between our governments.

I remind you that after the elections in the United Kingdom, when Keir Starmer became Prime Minister, he promised President Zelensky that we would strengthen and expedite our support for Ukraine.

I understand that sometimes there is a question: partners promised support, but did they deliver on what they promised? Our Minister of Defense has launched a new process to ensure that what we promised is delivered to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. And all the weaponry we promised to expedite in July, with the emergence of the new government, 95% is now in the hands of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

We know that the situation is critical and that partners must act quickly in their support for Ukraine. And what we promised, we delivered, we did.

– The UK has repeatedly been at the forefront of making significant decisions to assist Ukraine. For instance, you were the first country to provide us with modern Western tanks. Are you ready to also take the lead on lifting the ban on strikes with Western weapons deep into Russia?

– This is a question that is currently under discussion among partners and with Ukraine. It is one of the elements of President Zelensky's victory plan.

But it