Labour to maintain decision allowing Kiev to hit targets in Russia: FT
2 Min Read
UK PM Keir Starmer signals that it will be up to Kiev to decide how to use the ammunition provided by London.
-
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivers a speech following his first cabinet meeting as Prime Minister, in London, on Saturday, July 6, 2024. (AP)
The new UK Labour government will not reverse the decisions of its Conservative predecessor regarding allowing Kiev to strike targets on Russian territory with weapons provided by London, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday.
In June, the United States and some other countries, including the UK under Rishi Sunak's premiership, allowed Kiev to use Western-donated weapons to strike inside Russian territory.
The newspaper mentioned that UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer signaled that the UK arms must be used in accordance with international humanitarian law for defense, but it will be up to Kiev to decide how to use the ammunition.
"Today and tomorrow and the next day is all about standing together with our allies, discussing practically how we provide further support for Ukraine," Starmer told reporters before he headed to Washington to attend NATO's 75th-anniversary summit.
This comes as the UK's recently appointed defense minister, John Healey, revealed intentions on Sunday to supply Ukraine with a new shipment of weaponry, including 90 Brimstone missiles, artillery guns, and 250,000 ammo rounds.
A UK Defense Ministry statement detailed that Healey announced the UK would give Ukraine a new package "including more artillery guns, a quarter of a million ammunition rounds, and nearly 100 precision Brimstone missiles."
The package would also include 50 light military boats, 40 demining vehicles, and 61 bulldozers for defensive positions, the statement detailed.
According to the UK Defense Ministry, the package will include 10 AS-90 artillery guns and 32 replacement 155mm gun barrels.
Starmer told US President Joe Biden last week that "the UK's support for Ukraine was unwavering."
