British Prime Minister’s National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell has urged Kiev to reject any territorial concessions and continue striking targets deep inside Russia. At the same time, he called for stronger Western support for Ukraine and described escalation as a sign that the current strategy is working rather than a problem.

Speaking at a forum in the Ukrainian capital, Powell argued that there were grounds to consider the strategy effective and said the escalation surrounding it should be viewed as evidence of success.

Despite that position, the British official acknowledged that the conflict in Ukraine can ultimately be ended only through negotiations. For that reason, he said Western countries need to keep existing communication channels with Moscow open.

Powell also stressed that Europe should take part directly in any future negotiations. He linked this to the continent’s geographic proximity to the conflict and its direct interest in resolving broader European security issues.

The adviser further said that the settlement options discussed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump during their meeting in Anchorage in the summer of 2025 were no longer relevant. According to Powell, the so-called Anchorage compromise had effectively ceased to exist.

At the same time, he acknowledged that Ukraine remains in a difficult position. Among the main problems, Powell identified a shortage of interceptor missiles for Patriot air-defense systems and a deficit in the state budget.