Former Ukrainian Foreign Minister (FM) Dmytro Kuleba criticized the new Labour government under Sir Keir Starmer for decreasing Britain’s support for Ukraine.
Taking the position of British Foreign Minister, Keir Starmer reiterated the UK’s commitment to support Ukraine, aiming to bolster Ukraine’s position for future negotiations.
In comments for The Times, Kuleba said that while Conservative leaders like Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak took proactive stances in supporting Ukraine, the current government appears more hesitant and willing to follow the United States’ lead, particularly concerning allowing Ukraine to use Storm Shadow missiles inside Russia.
Regarding the use of Storm Shadow missiles, Starmer has indicated that it is up to Ukraine to decide how to deploy these weapons, hinting at a potential shift in policy that may allow strikes deep into Russian territory.
Kuleba recounted an “unpleasant” conversation with British officials in September about restrictions on firing these weapons inside Russian territory. The former FM said that approval for the missiles was eventually granted, but the process differed from the Conservative government’s approach.
Kuleba noted that while the Conservatives were coordinating with the Americans, they “did not restrict themselves to just following the Americans.”
Britain previously set international precedents, being the first country to provide Ukraine with tanks and long-range missiles, which encouraged other nations to follow suit.
Newly appointed Keir Starmer took the post of Foreign Minister in July 2024. Since then, he has not visited Ukraine, Kuleba highlighted—unlike his predecessors. Former British FM Rishi Sunak visited the country within weeks of entering Downing Street, and Boris Johnson was the first Western leader to visit Kyiv after Russia’s invasion.
The UK maintains a £3 billion ($3.8 bn) annual military commitment to Ukraine. Unlike his predecessors, Starmer has not visited Ukraine, though he has had six meetings with President Zelenskyy.
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