Blinken and Lammy Confirm Support by Travelling Together to Ukraine
While Zelenskyy has sought approval to target Russia with Western weapons, the UK government has maintained its current stance on the use of these weapons.
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Ukraine this week to reinforce their support for Kyiv in its war against Russia.
During a press conference in London on Tuesday, Blinken highlighted that one aim of the visit is to hear from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about what the U.S. and UK can do to further assist Ukraine.
“We will be listening intently to our Ukrainian partners,” Blinken said, noting that both he and Lammy would report back to President Biden and Prime Minister Keir Starmer before their upcoming meeting in Washington.
One expected topic for that meeting is the use of long-range weapons by Ukraine within Russian territory.
When questioned about whether Ukraine would be permitted to use UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles against Russia, Lammy emphasized the importance of gathering insights from Ukrainian officials on the ground.
He declined to comment on operational details, stressing that discussing such issues publicly would only benefit Russian President Vladimir Putin.
While Zelenskyy has sought approval to target Russia with Western weapons, the UK government has maintained its current stance on the use of these weapons.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin warned that it would retaliate if Ukraine is allowed to use British long-range missiles against Russian targets.
In a separate development, Blinken announced that the U.S. would be imposing new sanctions on Iran after accusing Tehran of providing ballistic missiles to Russia, which are expected to be used in Ukraine.
Blinken stated that Iran had been warned about escalating tensions by sending these missiles, which have a range of 75 miles, allowing Russia to target deeper into Ukrainian territory.
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine began in 2014 when Moscow annexed Crimea and supported separatists in the Donbas region. It escalated in 2022 when Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine after peace efforts under the Minsk accords failed.
Lammy described the joint visit to Ukraine as the first of its kind in a decade, symbolizing the ongoing solidarity between the UK and U.S. Blinken’s trip to London is part of the UK-U.S. Strategic Dialogue, aimed at deepening their long-standing relationship. Blinken went further, calling the relationship "essential" to both nations and beyond.
Lammy stated that the meeting would cover a wide range of topics, including defense, security, and global issues like the Middle East.
The Foreign Office added that the discussions would also focus on enhancing economic cooperation, with both countries already having a $1 trillion investment partnership.
Lammy stressed the importance of the U.S.-UK alliance, calling it the UK’s most valuable partnership, with both sides committed to strengthening their collaboration for mutual security and prosperity.
These efforts come as Prime Minister Starmer seeks to rebuild ties with the EU following his election win in July.
