According to U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Keir Starmer is trying to stiffen Joe Biden’s backbone. Speaking at a fringe event, as it was called, at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, Lammy said the hardship and challenges of the war in Ukraine would get “deeper and harsher,” particularly heading into “the back end of 2025 into 2026” and beyond, reported The Guardian. “So 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 comments that The Guardian said appeared directed at “a hesitant White House, concerned about the risks of allowing Storm Shadow missiles to be used to attack Russia.”
Lammy emphasized that Ukraine and its Western allies were discussing “what more might be necessary” to help Kyiv on the battlefield beyond trying to hold the frontline, which is under acute pressure in the east. “I am not going to, as foreign secretary, of course, comment on operational details, because that can only aid Putin,” Lammy said, in an apparent reference to Storm Shadow missiles. “But there is a very real-time discussion across allies about how we can support Ukraine as we head into winter.”
According to The Guardian, the fringe event was organized by the Tony Blair Institute.
Also speaking there was Gen. Valerii Zaluzhnyi, current Ukraine Ambassador to London and former commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He said Ukraine was “still serious about winning this war” and listed a series of requests to help it do so. “First of all we need to have enough modern weapons,” he said. “Long-range air and ground facilities are critically important. Lifting restrictions of using the weapons military targets in Russia is critical. These would help protect civilians from Russian missiles and glide bombs.” The ambassador also called for further tightening of sanctions against Russia, future NATO membership for Kyiv, and notably “a political decision” to allow Western allies “to shoot down drones and missiles above western Ukraine” with their own fighter jets and air-defense systems.
