Ukraine’s ambassador yesterday issued a fresh call for using long-range Western weapons to attack Russian territory, saying they are “critically important” to kyiv’s success.
Valerii Zaluzhnyi warned that it was a “critical moment” for allies to show “strength” and “patience” in reinforcing Ukraine’s defence, while Foreign Minister David Lammy urged allies to show “courage”.
Speaking at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, Mr Zaluzhnyi insisted that lifting gun restrictions would be crucial to the defence of kyiv.
He said: “Modern weapons with long-range capabilities from the air and on the ground are of vital importance. Lifting restrictions on the use of weapons against military targets in Russia is essential. This would help protect civilians from Russian missiles and bombs.
“This winter in Ukraine will be the most difficult. As we know, I believe in the resilience of the Ukrainian people, but without additional help the price will be very, very high.”
Valerii Zaluzhnyi (pictured on Sunday) warned that it was a “critical moment” for allies to show “strength” and “patience” in bolstering Ukraine’s defence.
Sir Keir Starmer (right) and Foreign Secretary David Lammy (left) at the British Ambassador’s Residence in Washington ahead of a meeting with US President Joe Biden on September 13
The UK and US have not explicitly given kyiv permission to fire long-range Western missiles (such as Britain’s Storm Shadow weapons (pictured)) at targets inside Russia, despite repeated pleas from the country’s government.
The UK and US have stopped short of giving kyiv explicit permission to fire long-range Western missiles (such as Britain’s Storm Shadow weapons) at targets inside Russia, despite repeated requests from the country’s government.
Western concerns include the risk of escalation, with Russian President Vladimir Putin warning that such a move would mean Nato countries would be at war with Moscow after speculation that a change of position could be imminent.
Sir Keir Starmer travelled to Washington earlier this month to discuss the issue with US President Joe Biden, but no decision was taken and both leaders remain reluctant to give the green light to the use of the missiles.
It is likely to come up again when Sir Keir, Biden and Zelensky attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week.
Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK spoke at a side event at the conference alongside Lammy, who said international partners were engaged in a “very real-time discussion” about how to help.
Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with members of the Security Council on September 20
Mr Lammy said: ‘I think we have to recognise Putin’s bluster and bullying rhetoric for what it is – a kind of deliberate psychological warfare which is generally indicative of his own fears of losing this ridiculous and horrendous bloody escapade.
‘He has a tendency to throw dust into his eyes.’
He added: “Now, there is a challenge. The challenge is that obviously in a democracy with a free press which of course underpins our democracy and is important in our democracy, there is some kind of public debate and discussion, and sometimes that discussion gets quite detailed in terms of tactics and how to conduct a war in a way that the tactics of Russia, Iran and North Korea are not public.
‘That depends on our intelligence capabilities and that of our Five Eyes partners in particular, at times to reveal what we know and what is happening…
“I have to err on the side of not going into too much detail about how we are helping Ukraine and how we will continue to help it.”