Andy Burnham said Vladimir Putin is not serious about peace as Russia continues to wage war in Ukraine. He made the comment this afternoon in a conversation with Finland's president, Alexander Stubb.
A Downing Street spokeswoman confirmed the call. The spokesman said the leaders began by discussing the latest on Ukraine, including the Brussels peace talks last week. They agreed it was vital that work towards a just and lasting peace in Ukraine was prioritised and continued at pace, before a wider discussion on European security.
The prime minister added that Putin had consistently failed to show he was serious about negotiations. He said that underlined the importance of Ukraine's partners piling on further pressure on Russia to force the Kremlin to engage seriously.
Finland shares a land border with Russia. Russia's president has expressed anger at Finland joining NATO in 2023.
Britain is preparing to host Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, for a state visit in 2027. The event would aim to project solidarity with Ukraine in what will be the fifth year of its war against Russia. Zelensky has visited the UK some 13 times since the start of the war, most recently to meet Burnham in Downing Street, when he received a guard of honour.
The two leaders also discussed the future of the UK-EU relationship. Leading up to the summit later this month, the prime minister said he was focused on a deal that delivered for all parties and ensured a modern relationship that could be built on. They looked forward to speaking again soon.