Richard Balfe and Vladimir Putin

A Conservative peer has urged Ukraine to accept it has lost land to Russia.

Lord Richard Balfe said Ukraine should also give up its ambitions to join Natoand pull out of the Russian region Kursk.

Speaking to Russia’s state news agency TASS, Balfe said: “Ukraine must withdraw from Kursk and accept that Crimea and the eastern [regions] are part of the Russian Federation.”

His remarks do not align with the stance both the Conservative Party and the governing Labour Party have adopted sine the war began – both have robustly defended Ukraine since Vladimir Putin invaded in February 2022.

But US president Donald Trump is pushing for a peace deal to end the war as soon as possible.

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