Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky used his appearance before Cabinet to ask Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to “show leadership” and grant Kyiv permission to strike Russian targets with UK-supplied weapons.
The former actor and comedian urged the UK government to help with Kyiv’s “long-range capability” as he became the first foreign leader to address the meeting of senior British ministers in person since former U.S. President Bill Clinton in 1997.
“We are still missing the main answer to this question,” Mr. Zelensky told the Friday morning meeting.
International Law ‘Must be Upheld’
The new UK government has signaled that it is a matter for Kyiv how it chooses to deploy weapons, as long as international law is upheld.Defence Secretary John Healey told BBC Radio 4’s “Today” programme ahead of the Cabinet address: “We’re providing weapons to Ukraine for their defence of their sovereign country. And that does not preclude them hitting targets in Russia, but that must be done by the Ukrainians. It must be done within the parameters and the bounds of international humanitarian law.”
During last week’s NATO summit, Sir Keir suggested Ukraine would be able to use the long-range missiles against Russian targets, but Downing Street later backtracked–saying government policy on the use of the Storm Shadow weapons had not changed.
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in response to the NATO meeting that there would be a response if the UK allowed Ukraine to strike Russia with British weapons.
Speaking after the Cabinet address, Downing Street said there was “no change to our position” on weapons.
A No. 10 spokeswoman said: “We have been providing military aid to support Ukraine’s clear right to self-defence against Russia’s illegal acts in accordance with international humanitarian law.
“Equipment provided by the UK is intended for the defence of Ukraine.”
The Ukrainian conflict with Russia began in 2014, but escalated when President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine in February 2022, saying he wanted to “demilitarize and denazify” the country, following years of dispute over the Donbas region.
Both the Conservative and the new Labour government of the UK have offered continuing support and billions in funding to Ukraine.
‘Unshakeable Support’
The prime minister said the visit was “a very special moment” and showed “the esteem you’re held in … in this country and around the world,” as he promised “unshakeable” support for Kyiv.“It’s a very special moment for us to reiterate our support for you and the Ukrainian people in the fight against Russian aggression and to have this opportunity to confirm again our resolve to stand with you, so thank you so much for accepting the invitation,” Sir Keir said.
“It is a real pleasure and a privilege to be able to welcome you to Downing Street this morning. This is a real piece of history.”
President Zelensky thanked Sir Keir for his support and said it was felt by Ukrainians across the country.
A Fictional President
The Ukrainian leader famously played a fictional president in the hit TV series “Servant of the People” from 2015-2019 before announcing his candidacy to run for office.
On the eve of the Ukrainian President’s appearance before Cabinet, he met with representatives of the UK arms industry alongside Mr. Healey and Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, at Lancaster House.
The group discussed how to deepen cooperation and boost defence industrial production for Ukraine, according to the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
Mr. Healey said he had “emphasised the government will continue to work in partnership with industry and the need to boost industrial production of vital military kit for our own armed forces.”
He said: “The Ukrainians are fighting with huge courage, the military and civilians alike. Our new government has already pledged to step up support, confirming £3 billion a year to help Ukraine and a new package of ammunition, anti-armour missiles and artillery guns.”
The MoD said deals such as an agreement with BAE Systems to repair and maintain UK-supplied weapons in Ukraine and an arrangement with Sheffield Forgemasters to support the repair and overhaul of Ukrainian vehicles would help both Ukrainian and British armed forces secure the equipment they needed.
President Zelensky’s visit to Downing Street follows the European Political Community summit at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, on Thursday, which saw 44 countries together with the EU agreeing to target Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” of tankers reportedly seeking to evade sanctions on Russian oil.
