Russia initiated the Ukraine conflict and has the power to end it immediately, Sir Keir Starmer stated. The prime minister arrived in Washington DC for discussions with President Joe Biden at the White House regarding the ongoing war. Sir Keir expressed support for Kyiv’s right to self-defence following Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s assertion that NATO would be “at war” with Russia if the West permitted the use of long-range weapons against it.
The UK has been providing Ukraine with Storm Shadow cruise missiles since last year, but like the US, it restricts their use against targets in Russia to prevent escalation. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged the lifting of these restrictions as Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
On Thursday, President Putin warned that allowing long-range strikes would mean NATO, the US, and European countries were at war with Russia. He stated that Russia would make appropriate decisions based on the threats posed. In response, Sir Keir reinforced that Russia started the conflict through an illegal invasion of Ukraine and could end it immediately. He reiterated the UK’s full support for Ukraine’s right to self-defence, including providing training capabilities.
🇬🇧🇺🇦 “Russia started this war. Russia illegally invaded Ukraine. Russia can end it right now”, – Starmer
👀 UK has provided Ukraine with “resources,” in particular in terms of training the military, and I will consult with Biden about the “further nature” of support, he added. pic.twitter.com/gCWh7ReJhn
— MAKS 24 🇺🇦👀 (@Maks_NAFO_FELLA) September 13, 2024
Earlier this week, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met President Zelenskyy in Kyiv. Ukraine continued to press the two nations to change their stance, especially after American intelligence indicated that Russia had received a weapons shipment from Iran. Both Mr Lammy and Mr Blinken committed to relaying Ukraine’s message to their leaders. Mr Blinken mentioned that President Biden was “not ruling out” changing his position.
This meeting will be the first between Sir Keir and President Biden following the UK’s decision to ban certain weapons export licences to Israel amidst the Gaza conflict. Mr Lammy announced the ban in the Commons, citing legal advice that indicated a “clear risk” these weapons could be used to commit serious violations of international humanitarian law. The decision faced criticism from MPs arguing it either undermined UK support for Israel or did not go far enough to cover all weapons export licences.
On the same day, President Biden mentioned that a final hostage deal between Israel and Hamas was “very close,” but criticised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for not doing enough to secure an agreement.
What Other Media Are Saying
- Politico.eu reports that a White House summit could grant Ukraine new powers to strike Russia’s military bases, sparking concerns from Russian President Putin.(read more)
- Euronews reports that UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has stated that Russian President Putin started the Ukraine war and can end it at any time, while also discussing ongoing military assistance and potential NATO involvement.(read more)
- BBC News reports that Prime Minister Keir Starmer asserts Russia can end the Ukraine conflict immediately, while Vladimir Putin warns of Western missile escalation, emphasizing NATO involvement in the war.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
What did Sir Keir Starmer say about Russia and the Ukraine war?
Sir Keir said Russia started the Ukraine war and could end it straight away.
Why is the UK providing Ukraine with Storm Shadow missiles?
The UK supports Ukraine’s right to self-defense and is providing Storm Shadow missiles for this purpose.
What is President Putin’s stance on NATO involvement in the Ukraine conflict?
Putin suggested NATO countries would be at war with Russia if long-range weapons are used against it.
What did President Biden and Sir Keir discuss during their meeting?
They discussed the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and potential changes in military support policies.
What recent action did the UK take regarding weapons export licenses to Israel?
The UK banned some weapons export licenses to Israel due to a risk of violating international humanitarian law.
