President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on Sir Keir Starmer to “show your leadership” as he appealed to the government to allow Ukraine to use Western weapons in strikes against targets inside Russia.
The Ukrainian leader visited Number 10 on Friday as the UK promised to lead a “crackdown” on Russian oil vessels.
But Mr Zelenskyy said his country was “still missing the main answer to this question” on whether they can use Western weapons to attack Russian territory, adding: “I ask you to show your leadership in this and please convince other partners to remove the limits.”
The UK, US and other allies began giving Kyiv longer-range missiles last year.
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But while Ukrainian forces have used them to hit targets in Russian-occupied parts of their country, they have not used them deep inside Russia amid concerns about escalating the conflict.
The UK government had suggested it is a matter for the Ukrainian government over how they use weaponry, but insisted international law had to be upheld.
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Mr Zelenskyy, who has been in the country for the European Political Community (EPC) summit, briefed the whole of the new cabinet in Downing Street on the ongoing war.
He became the first foreign leader to be hosted by the new prime minister, as well as the first president to address the cabinet in person since former US president Bill Clinton in 1997.
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The meeting came after 44 European countries and the European Union agreed at the EPC summit to work together to disrupt Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet”.
It is a group of around 6,000 vessels that carry 1.7 million barrels of oil a day, which the government says the country uses to “generate significant funds to fuel its war machine”, with some thought to act as listening stations or to transport weapons.
Image: Ministers applauded President Zelenskyy during Friday’s cabinet meeting. Pic: Reuters
Mr Zelenskyy and Sir Keir embraced outside Number 10 ahead of the meeting, and the foreign leader received a standing ovation when he met the cabinet.
Downing Street said each of the secretaries of state “reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Ukraine on all fronts – from military and financial support, to ensuring that Ukrainians living here are supported and feel Britain’s central message that we are all united behind them”.
During the meeting, the prime minister said: “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.”
The president thanked the prime minister for his and the UK’s support, saying it was felt by Ukrainians across the country.
He added: “I hope we will now work even more actively. The faster you act, the more you will achieve.”
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Zelenskyy calls for unity in Europe
The UK and Ukrainian defence ministers signed a new defence export support treaty this week, worth £3.5bn and agreed by the two leaders, to increase military hardware and weapons production for the war effort.
President Zelenskyy also met representatives of the UK defence industry and UK Defence Secretary John Healey on Thursday to discuss how to deepen cooperation and boost defence industrial production.
The event comes amid growing uncertainty around the future of funding for Ukraine due to the US presidential elections.
Donald Trump, who is hoping to return to the White House after the US election in November, this week announced his running mate as Ohio senator JD Vance – an arch-critic of US aid to Ukraine and of American taxpayers bankrolling European security.
Sir Keir has reiterated his backing for Mr Zelenskyy, however, announcing a £3bn package of funding at the recent NATO summit in Washington.
Source : Sky News
