UK urges allies to show ‘nerve’ in supporting Kiev

The foreign secretary has argued that NATO countries need to step up aid for Ukraine

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy has called on NATO members to demonstrate “nerve and guts” in their support for Ukraine, in an apparent call to lift restrictions on the use of Western-supplied weapons for strikes deep inside Russia.

Kiev has received Storm Shadow and ATACMS missiles from the UK and US, is only allowed to use them on territories that Kiev claims as its own, such as  Crimea and Donbass. Ukraine’s leader Vladimir Zelensky has been pushing for permission to use the missiles for long-range attacks on internationally recognized Russian territory. Moscow has warned that such a move would turn NATO countries into direct participants in the conflict, and pledged an appropriate response. 

Earlier this month, Lammy and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer traveled to the US and had a “wide-ranging discussion about strategy” with President Joe Biden, but failed to reach an agreement.

While the UK advocates for lifting restrictions on the way Ukraine can use Western weapons, Washington has so far held back on a decision – saying Kiev needs to explicitly state its combat objectives. 

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Speaking at a fringe event during the Labour Party conference in Liverpool on Sunday, Lammy acknowledged there is “a very real-time discussion across allies” on how to step up support for Kiev in its conflict with Russia.

“This is a critical time for nerve and guts and patience and for fortitude on behalf of allies who stand with Ukraine,” he said in an apparent reference to Biden’s hesitation.

During the main conference later in the day he reiterated Britain’s unwavering support for Kiev, saying the UK government has committed to providing £3 billion ($3.99 billion) in military aid per year “for as long as it takes.”

Earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Ukraine would not be able to operate long-range systems without the use of intelligence from NATO satellites and the involvement of “NATO military personnel,” and that such a development would change the essence of the conflict. He added that Moscow would “make appropriate decisions based on the threats facing us.”