Putin faces ‘powerful’ threat as the UK pledges military aid to Ukraine for ‘as long as it takes’

When Ukraine gave up its nuclear arsenal, U.S., the U.K. and Russia guaranteed Ukraine's security in a 1994 agreement known as the Budapest Memorandum. Ukraine was told at the time that the United States and Western powers — so certainly at least the United States and Great Britain — take their political commitments really seriously. This is a document signed at the highest level by the heads of state. So the implication was Ukraine would not be left to stand alone and face a threat should it come under one. Ukraine has accused Russia of violating the agreement with its 2014 annexation of Crimea, and again with the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russia just glibly violated the agreement. The narrative in Ukraine, publicly is: We had the world's third-largest nuclear arsenal, we gave it up for this signed piece of paper, and look what happened. And it really doesn't look good for the international non-proliferation regime. Because if you have a country that disarms and then becomes a target of such a threat and a victim of such a threat at the hands of a nuclear-armed country, it just sends a really wrong signal to other countries that might want to pursue nuclear weapons. The guarantors — the signatories of the Budapest Memorandum especially but also the international community more broadly — needs to react in the way as to not make Ukraine doubt in the rightness of that decision. EVEN CHINA gave Ukraine a nuclear security guarantee. In December 2013, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping signed a bilateral treaty and published a joint statement, where China reaffirmed that it will provide Ukraine with nuclear security guarantees upon nuclear invasion OR threats of invasion. THESE NATIONS are HONOUR-BOUND TO STAND BY THEIR WORD IN PROTECTING UKRAINE. UKRAINE should not have to keep asking for weapons to defend itself. If it had kept its nuclear arsenal, it would not have to.

My heart is with Ukraine, thanks to those who support Ukraine. God bless you.

The minister's words honor the history of the UK!

That's good, but once again we have that statement of pledging aid "for as long as it takes" instead of "until Ukraine wins". I'm still waiting for one country to actually say "until Ukraine WINS".

Why are politicians so naive. Putin is not sensitive for words. Putin is only sensitive for deeds. If the UK drives the start-up of the production of the Taurus, by ordering several thousand of units, than Putin will become nervous. Moreover, in stead of every country making its own systems, maybe it is an idea to start standardisation of weapons and weapon systems, by collaborating with e.g. Nordic Nations. This allows economy of scale, significantly reducing costs. The UK, Scandinavian, Baltic and Netherlands have a similar view. Use this to standardise weapons but also to speak as one block. Most of all, Europe is lacking leadership. If the UK can lead a Nordic Alliance, this will be most fearful for Putin.

You can always count on the UK for foreign policy leadership

The Brits are trying to uphold their part of the security agreement..not much they can do if the other signatories don't abide by it.

Why so antagonistic, report the news and let the minister speak, stop trying to make the news. We are making the right choices, taking the tough decisions and leading where others will follow. We can support Ukraine And support ourselves.

A vote for trump is a vote for Putin. A vote for farage is a vote for Putin.

Thank you, UK!

Slava Ukraine 🇺🇦♥

How hypocritical can Mr Starmer get?. "I will support Ukraine" and then reverses permission to use UK weapons on legitimate targets on Russian soil! STOP tying the Ukrainians hands behind their backs.

I get so disillusioned by the leading questions which this woman is asking .. almost as if she is trying to get Ukraine to accept the Putin invasion .

Funny how it's always the UK to say or act first before others respond.

Excellent

russia barely lasted 1 year and now they'll last 10? Sure Vlad.

The interviewer’s questions sound as if she’s Putin’s agent. Very weird questions.

The question he should have asked her, is "defence against who?" What would she say?

no money for schools, hospitals, infrastructure, social services, etc, but loads for Blackrock and all sorts of military contractors.., brilliant, true Labour legacy being created..

It just seems like the UK always comes through.