Starmer pledges unwavering support for Ukraine amid Zelensky allegations
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused the UK of “slowing down” its support for the war effort as he called for a removal of restrictions on donated weapons being used inside Russian territory.
A Government spokesperson said Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer maintains “unwavering” support for Ukraine, adding that the position has not changed since Ukraine’s incursion into Russia.
The Government has previously stated its support for Ukraine’s “clear right of self-defence against Russia’s illegal attacks” provided they are in accordance with international humanitarian law, while maintaining that equipment provided by the UK is intended for the defence of Ukraine.
Ukrainian forces have been engaged in a military incursion into Russia’s Kursk region since August 6, which Mr Zelensky revealed on Sunday evening was aimed at creating a buffer zone to prevent further attacks by Moscow across the border.
The UK has pledged £12.5 billion in support to Ukraine since February 2022, of which £7.6 billion is for military assistance. This includes £3 billion for military assistance in 2024/25.
“Remove barriers”
In a post to X, formerly Twitter, Mr Zelesnky said: “We are doing everything possible to provide our warriors with the necessary weapons and reinforcements.
“It is crucial that our partners remove barriers that hinder us from weakening Russian positions in the way this war demands.
“Long-range capabilities are the answer to the most critical strategic questions of this war.
“The bravery of our soldiers and the resilience of our combat brigades compensate for the lack of essential decisions from our partners.
“We could decisively deprive the occupiers of any ability to advance and cause destruction if our long-range capabilities were sufficient.”
He added: “Throughout this war, we’ve seen the UK demonstrate true leadership — in arms, politics, and support for Ukrainian society. This has saved thousands of lives, reflecting the strength of the UK.
“Unfortunately, the situation has slowed down recently. We will discuss how to fix this because long-range capabilities are vital for us. The whole world sees how effective Ukrainians are — how our entire nation defends its independence.”
A Government spokesperson said the Prime Minister “has been clear that UK’s support for Ukraine is unwavering”.
They said: “That is why he committed to £3 billion a year of support to Ukraine, for as long as it takes, within his first week in office.
“Further lethal aid was also accelerated to Kyiv within hours of this Government being elected, bolstering the £12 billion of UK support already pledged, and ensuring the vital military equipment reaches Ukrainian soldiers on the front line.”
The new package of lethal aid for Ukraine includes a quarter of a million of 50-calibre ammunition, 90 anti-armour Brimstone missiles, 50 small military boats, 40 de-mining vehicles, and 10 AS-90 artillery guns.
Ukrainian forces have also received 61 bulldozers and support for previously gifted AS-90s, from the UK
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Worrying noises from Germany but unlock the missiles. Let them use them. Keep up the support.
While Germany is halving the financial support to Ukraine, this needs to be seen in the context that the EU is finding ways to utilise the 300 billion Euro fund of seized Russian assets to help Ukraine.
Some of General MacArthur’s advisers were advocating creating a nuclear wasteland buffer zone between China and its southern neighbours seventy five years ago…
Where to go from here, there are 6 nuclear reactors in this theatre of operations…!
In my opinion NATO and the EU have provoked Russia into war. They have expanded right up to the Russian borders despite their agreement with Gorbachev that they never would. A negotiated peace is needed not more weaponry.
Seems odd we are told the UK cannot afford wage rises, decent housing, a fully funded NHS etc etc etc but we can always afford a war
How has the EU provoked Russia? It is an economic union and not a military one. If Ukraine wants to join the EU then it is their right to do so and not for Russia to say otherwise. Should the UK have the right to insist that Ireland leave the EU as well?
More countries have recently joined NATO because of Putin and NATO is a defence pact, not offence, he started murdering his way through Ukraine in 2014, he is raping and murdering his way through a country to finish the job. He has form.
Ukraine cannot surrender because putin will murder anyone that got in his way, he will continue with the terrible actions he is pushing now. Ukraine want their country back, negotiate now on russian aggression holding parts of Ukraine and Putin will kick off again very soon. Like he did after the 2014 invasion.
There was no agreement. It’s a myth. NATO and the EU have not provoked Russia, and if you’re fool enough to believe Putin’s propaganda machine, then that’s on you. Putin has only himself to blame for NATO creeping right up to Russia’s borders, as neither Sweden nor Finland were NATO members prior to 2022, and until that time, it looked highly unlikely that either would seek NATO membership. It’s also likely that if Putin prevails, that the Baltic states and Poland as well as Moldova could come into the Kremlin’s sights. Let’s not forget it was Russia that violated Ukraine’s… Read more »