In a firm statement, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer emphasized that Russia holds the key to ending the war in Ukraine, reiterating that the conflict began with Moscow’s illegal invasion. Speaking on his flight to Washington for discussions with U.S. President Joe Biden, Starmer insisted that Russia could stop the violence “straight away” if it chose to do so.
This comes in response to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s warning that any Western missiles fired into Russia would signify NATO’s direct involvement in the conflict. Putin, speaking on Russian state television, warned that such actions could “substantially change the nature” of the war, implicating the U.S. and European countries as active participants.
As Western allies, including the U.K. and U.S., contemplate providing Ukraine with permission to use their long-range missile systems to strike targets within Russia, Putin maintained that only NATO personnel could carry out such precision strikes due to Ukraine’s lack of advanced capabilities.
The U.K. Prime Minister’s remarks underscore the ongoing international diplomacy surrounding the conflict, with Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy traveling to Kyiv and Washington as Ukraine’s supporters recalibrate their strategies. The potential escalation of the war, with Iran supplying Russia with additional weapons, has prompted a reevaluation of how the West can bolster Ukraine without provoking further conflict.
Starmer’s diplomatic visit is part of a broader series of meetings with world leaders, aimed at addressing the evolving challenges in both Ukraine and the Middle East. As the international community weighs how to navigate these delicate dynamics, the question remains whether Moscow will heed calls to end the conflict or whether further escalation looms on the horizon.