Britain won't be bullied out of backing Ukraine by Putin's nuclear threats, insists David Lammy
09/15/2024 04:43 PM
BRITAIN will not be bullied out of backing Ukraine by Vladimir Putin's nuclear threats, David Lammy insists.
The Foreign Secretary vowed to continue talks with allies on giving Ukraine permission to fire UK-made weapons into Russia.
But he refused to say President Volodymyr Zelensky should be free to fire Storm Shadow missiles now.
He told the BBC "no war is won with any one weapon".
He said a more definitive position on missiles will be reached at the UN General Assembly meeting in New York in a fortnight.
Mr Lammy said: "I can't tell you operationally, on air, what we will or won't do, and I particularly won't do that at a time when Russia is buying ballistic missiles from Iran and escalating further.
“But this is under careful discussion with the Ukrainians as we assess what they need as they head into that winter."
He went on: "We won't be bullied by Putin's shameless grandstanding. What he should now do is cease his aggression and leave Ukraine."
Yesterday, President Zelensky launched a fresh plea for permission to fire Storm Shadows into Russia.
He urged the West not to "fear" making "strong decisions" to aid his country.
In the past week, Russia launched around 30 missiles into Ukraine, alongside more than 800 guided aerial bombs and nearly 300 strike drones.
On Saturday, we revealed military chiefs fear Russia has handed Iran nuclear secrets in return for ballistic missiles.
Shadow Foreign Secretary James Cleverly slammed ministers for refusing to give Kyiv the instant go-ahead.
The Tory leadership hopeful said it was "disappointing".
He was backed by five ex-Defence Secretaries and Boris Johnson in warning Sir Keir Starmer that any further delay will only embolden Putin.
