Britain’s ambassador to the United States said during an interview over the weekend that the European continent needed a “radical reset” in its priorities to match President Donald Trump’s desire for them to start carrying their own weight.

Lord Peter Mandelson made the remarks during a Sunday interview on ABC News’ “This Week” with George Stephanopoulos when asked about remarks made by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

“My response is that we need a very radical reset,” he said. “And the reset has to consist of the United States and Ukraine getting back on the same page, and President Zelenskyy giving his unequivocal backing to the initiative that President Trump is taking to end the war and to bring a just and lasting peace to Ukraine.”

“And the Europeans, too, they need to back the cause for a ceasefire,” he added. “And by the way, I think that Ukraine should be the first to commit to a ceasefire and defy the Russians to follow. And then as part of the unfolding plan for this negotiation, the Europeans, and perhaps some other countries, too, have got to consider how they are going to put forces on the ground to play their part in providing enduring security and deterrence for Ukraine.”

He said that Zelensky must “make clear his commitment to the initiative that President Trump is taking” in order to get things back on track.

“And, yes, I do think it would be a good idea if he signed the economic and commercial deal put forward by the United States,” he continued. “And the reason I say that is quite apart from the economic gain that Ukraine will derive from that. It will also give the United States a stake in Ukraine’s future. It will mean that U.S. commercial interest, U.S. individual citizens will be on the ground there and that will be an even greater, added incentive for the U.S. to protect the Ukraine in future, make sure that war does not ensue again. That’s what I want to see. That’s what we all want to see.”

WATCH:

British Ambassador to the U.S. Lord Peter Mandelson: President Zelenskyy needs to give “his unequivocal backing to the initiative that President Trump is taking to END the war and to bring a just and lasting PEACE.” pic.twitter.com/ZWLasg6tNc

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 2, 2025