UK’s Cameron pitched radical Ukraine peace deal to Trump — report

LONDON — Britain insisted its position on a Ukrainian peace deal has not changed after a report that the country’s top diplomat floated an agreement with Russia in a meeting with Donald Trump.

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron met Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate in April to try to convince the presidential contender to endorse more military aid to Ukraine in the face of Republican resistance.

Citing a “senior source,” The Sunday Times newspaper reported this weekend that Cameron had argued fresh aid would help Ukraine hold its front lines — and give Trump the “best possible conditions” to try and secure a deal between the warring sides.

According to the paper’s source, Cameron asked Trump: “What are the best conditions in which you as president can make a deal in January? It’s both sides holding their lines and paying a price for that.”

That would be a far cry from the official U.K. line, and the report prompted a flurry of questions in Westminster on Monday.

The British government has long argued that a peace deal is a matter for Ukraine — and Cameron himself has publicly said “peace comes through strength, not through appeasement and weakness.”

Pressed by reporters Monday afternoon, a spokesperson for U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Britain’s position on the war had not changed. “I don’t recognize those reports … our position has not changed. Putin must fail,” the spokesperson said.

“It is crucial, now more than ever in this conflict, that Putin is sent a very clear message that we will support Ukraine for as long as is necessary,” they added.

“I’ve seen some anonymous source briefing. We do not recognize those reports,” the spokesperson reiterated when asked to directly reject the Sunday Times story.

Sunak was also pushed on the report after a speech in central London Monday.

“I haven’t seen this Sunday Times article, so forgive me for that,” Sunak said. “But what I can tell you is that you we have led when it comes to Ukraine.”

“Investment in Ukraine’s security is investment in our security. Our NATO allies are already worried about the prospect of if Putin succeeds, that they’ll be next — with all the consequences that would bring,” the British prime minister added.