The agreement was initially celebrated by then-Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain as a means of securing “peace for our time.” However, just a year later, Hitler’s invasion of Poland sparked the outbreak of World War II.

Conservative MP Julian Lewis, a former chair of the Commons defense committee and Royal Naval Reserve veteran, urged ministers during a parliamentary session on Thursday to consistently convey to President Trump the critical lesson that the appeasement strategy contributed to World War II by creating a power vacuum in Europe.

Lewis emphasized that, “The reason the occupation of Eastern Europe after the war did not escalate into World War III was due to the United States stepping in to fill that vacuum and prevent further acts of aggression.”

“History has consistently shown that appeasement is ineffective,” noted Conservative MP David Reed, a former Royal Marine, in a statement to POLITICO. He added, “This conflict must conclude on Ukraine’s terms—anything less would constitute a betrayal of a courageous ally who faced an unprovoked invasion and poses a direct risk to Europe’s security.”

Healey: Ukraine Must Be Part of Peace Negotiations

These remarks coincided with Britain’s Defense Secretary John Healey attending a NATO meeting where he underscored the importance of involving Kyiv in any peace negotiations. The Labour government has made it clear that it acknowledges Trump’s calls for increased defense spending in Europe while refraining from publicly speculating on the outcomes of future discussions or criticizing Trump’s approach.