5 ex-defense secs urge Starmer to let Kiev fire UK missiles on Russia
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Boris Johnson and several former defense secretaries are urging UK PM Sir Keir Starmer to independently authorize Ukraine’s use of British-made missiles against Russia, despite the lack of US endorsement.
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The Storm Shadow cruise missile is on display during the Paris Air Show in Le Bourget, north of Paris, France, on June 19, 2023. (AP)
Five former defense secretaries, along with former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, urged incumbent Prime Minister Keir Starmer to independently authorize Ukraine's use of British-made missiles to strike Russia, regardless of US approval.
The group, which included Grant Shapps, Ben Wallace, Gavin Williamson, Penny Mordaunt, and Liam Fox, advocated for Kiev to be allowed to deploy long-range missiles against Russian forces.
Meanwhile, the Independent also reported that UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy appeared to downplay the significance of Shadow Storm missiles, stressing that "no war is won with any one weapon, that is the case."
Pressure on Ukraine's request has grown after talks between Sir Keir Starmer and US President Joe Biden in Washington failed to reach an agreement on allowing Kiev to use UK and US missiles. However, further discussions are set for the UN later this month.
"Rather than waiting for formal approval from the US, Sir Keir needs to provide President Zelensky with what’s desperately needed today. That’s how we assumed our global leadership position in supporting Ukraine," Shapps said while speaking to the Sunday Times.
On his part, Wallace warned, as reported by the Independent, that "Britain is in danger of falling behind into the pack of ditherers, appeasers, and delayers when the only real way to stand up to a bully such as Putin is to be strong, united and determined to see it through."
Similarly, Johnson claimed while speaking to The Mail on Sunday that "there is no conceivable case for delay. The only person who fears escalation is Vladimir Putin, and every day that goes by is a lost opportunity to save lives and bring about a just conclusion to this war."
As for Lammy, in response to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s latest warnings, he told Sky's Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips, "Putin warned against sending tanks and missiles, but we sent them anyway. He threatens nuclear weapons every few months."
Lammy added that the UK "won’t be intimidated by Putin’s grandstanding," urging the Russian leader to end the war and withdraw from Ukraine.
NATO not to become party in Ukraine war
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg stated that the alliance would not be drawn into the war in Ukraine, even if member states permit Kiev to strike Russian territory using Western-made weapons.
"This is not correct when President Putin says that we will become party to the conflict," Stoltenberg claimed.
Stoltenberg also clarified that NATO does not view Iran and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea as parties to the conflict, despite claims of their military assistance to Moscow. He noted that the alliance is also keeping a close watch on Russia's nuclear activities.
"So far, we haven't seen any changes in their nuclear posture that require any changes from our side," he said, pointing out that there will be no winners in a nuclear war.
Read more: Ukraine could not effectively use UK missiles without US data: Times
