Britain has announced that it will not participate in Thursday’s signing ceremony for US President Donald Trump’s proposed “Board of Peace,” citing concerns over the body’s legal scope and the inclusion of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper disclosed the decision while speaking to BBC television from Davos, Switzerland, where the ceremony is scheduled to take place.

“There’s a huge amount of work to do, we won’t be one of the signatories today,” Cooper said.

She explained that the proposed board raises significant legal and political questions, particularly due to Russia’s involvement at a time when the war in Ukraine is ongoing.

“This is about a legal treaty that raises much broader issues, and we do also have concerns about President Putin being part of something that is talking about peace, when we have still not seen any signs from Putin that there will be a commitment to peace in Ukraine,” she added.

The “Board of Peace,” initiated by President Trump, is intended as a new international body for resolving global conflicts and reportedly carries a $1bn fee for permanent membership. Invitations have been sent to dozens of world leaders, though details about the structure and mandate of the group remain unclear.

While the initiative was initially presented as a mechanism to oversee the rebuilding of Gaza, its founding charter does not restrict its focus to the region. The broad mandate has sparked concern among several US allies, with some viewing it as a potential rival to the United Nations. France is among the countries that have reportedly expressed unease about the proposal.

On Wednesday, Trump claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to join the board. However, the Kremlin has since said it is still reviewing the invitation.

The UK’s decision highlights growing scepticism among Western allies about the initiative, particularly amid ongoing tensions surrounding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.