By Ginika Igboke
U.S. President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer held a pre-Christmas phone call on Dec. 21 to discuss U.S.-led efforts to end conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.
According to the British prime minister’s office, the two leaders spoke about initiatives by countries describing themselves as the “Coalition of the Willing” to support any peace agreement that would bring a “just and lasting end” to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
“Turning to the Middle East, the leaders discussed the situation on the ground in Gaza,” the statement said.
Starmer and Trump also addressed the appointment of Christian Turner as the new British ambassador to the United States. Turner replaces Lord Peter Mandelson, who was removed from the role over his links to Jeffrey Epstein. Starmer said Turner’s appointment, citing his experience as a senior diplomat, would “further deepen the relationship between the two countries.”
The two leaders concluded the call by wishing each other a Merry Christmas.
Ukraine-Russia Talks
U.S. negotiators met with Ukrainian and European officials in Miami, Florida, on Friday, followed by talks with Russian officials on Saturday, as part of ongoing efforts to bring the conflict to an end. The discussions come as the Trump administration continues to push both sides toward an agreement.
U.S. Special Envoy for peace missions Steve Witkoff said on Dec. 21 that Russian Special Envoy Kirill Dmitriev had held “productive and constructive meetings” with the American delegation over the previous two days to advance President Trump’s peace plan for Ukraine.
“Russia remains fully committed to achieving peace in Ukraine,” Witkoff said, adding that Moscow values U.S. efforts to resolve the conflict and restore global security.
In a separate statement, Witkoff said Ukraine is also “fully committed to achieving a just and sustainable peace,” noting that talks focused on timelines and the sequencing of next steps.
“Our shared priority is to stop the killing, ensure guaranteed security, and create conditions for Ukraine’s recovery, stability, and long-term prosperity,” he said.
‘False Narrative’ on Russia
U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard criticized what she described as media-driven propaganda that promotes the escalation of war.
In a post on X, Gabbard responded to a Reuters report citing anonymous U.S. intelligence sources who claimed that President Vladimir Putin has not abandoned ambitions to seize all of Ukraine and reclaim parts of Europe once controlled by the Soviet Union.
“No, this is a lie and propaganda,” Gabbard wrote, accusing Reuters of advancing the agenda of “warmongers” seeking to undermine President Trump’s efforts to end the conflict, which she said has caused more than a million casualties on both sides.
Gabbard said the actual intelligence assessment provided to lawmakers is that Russia seeks to avoid a broader war with NATO and lacks the capability to conquer all of Ukraine, let alone Europe.
She added that this was the assessment shared with Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.), a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, who was cited in the Reuters report.
“You are promoting this false narrative to block President Trump’s peace effort and to stoke fear in order to justify escalating the war,” Gabbard said, referring to the article’s claim that U.S. intelligence assessments align with those of British and other European security services.
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