British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper does not rule out the possibility of British troops seizing ships of the Russian "shadow fleet", BNR reported.
In an interview with "Sky News" Cooper first praised the Ukrainians for their "courage and resilience".
"I think Putin has underestimated Ukraine and the Ukrainian people at every stage, and he has also underestimated the resolve of Ukraine's friends", said Britain's top diplomat.
She said Europeans knew they "had to invest more in defence" but warned that she believed peace could not be achieved without security guarantees. The minister added that she was "extremely sceptical that Putin was committed to peace" and continued to believe that economic pressure on Russia would have to be stepped up.
When asked whether British troops could seize ships from the Russian "shadow fleet" in the future, Yvette Cooper said the UK "had already provided support for action against that fleet". She did not commit to specifying whether British troops would be willing to stop, attack and seize a ship, but affirmatively stated that every opportunity is being sought to put pressure on the "shadow fleet" associated with violations of sanctions imposed on Russia.
The US permanent representative to NATO expressed the opinion that Russia may never be ready to conclude an agreement to end the war in Ukraine, which Moscow started four years ago, reported Agence France-Presse.
""I think the Ukrainians are ready right now to conclude a peace agreement that is acceptable and fair under the circumstances," Ambassador Matthew Whitaker said during a roundtable on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. "But I'm not convinced that Russia is ready to make a deal or that it ever will be."
This message contrasts with the request made by US President Donald Trump earlier in the day, Agence France-Presse notes.
He called on his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky "to get moving" to make a deal with Russia. Another round of talks to resolve the conflict is due to begin next week.
European Council President Antonio Costa will visit Kiev on February 24 for the anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ukrinform reported.
Costa made the announcement in Aix after a meeting of world leaders with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, organized by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.
"An important meeting organized by Chancellor Merz to review the situation in Ukraine and current developments surrounding the peace talks. We welcome all efforts to achieve lasting peace. The recently concluded agreement on the exchange of prisoners of war is a welcome step forward," said the President of the European Council.
He stressed that the EU's goal is for Ukraine to be strong enough on the path to peace.
"We will continue to provide comprehensive support to Ukraine - political, military and financial - including support for its accession to the EU," wrote Costa. "Dear Mr. President, on February 24, I will be in Kiev to stand with you on the Maidan (Independence Square in Kiev) and together we will commemorate the anniversary of the Russian military aggression," he added, addressing Zelensky.
Earlier, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said after a meeting with the Ukrainian leader in Munich that the EU's goal is for Ukraine to be able to negotiate on terms favorable to Kiev, from a position of strength, and a safe, reliable and prosperous future for its citizens within the EU, Ukrinform reports.