Western allies must “double” support for Ukraine with both heavy weapons and air force, said Foreign Minister Liz Trus.
In a key foreign policy speech, Ms Trus said that international architecture designed to guarantee peace and prosperity had failed Ukraine in the face of an attack by a “desperate fraudster” and that Kyiv now needed to be given what it needed. “to push Russia out.”
Speaking at the Mansion House in London, she said: “The war in Ukraine is our war – it is a war for all, because the victory of Ukraine is a strategic imperative for all of us.
“Heavy weapons, tanks, planes – we dig deep into our reserves, we increase production. We have to do all this.”
Image: Foreign Minister Liz Truss says “Ukraine’s war is everyone’s war”
NATO countries supply Ukraine with military supplies, including missiles and armored vehicles. But so far, they have been reluctant to send fighters for fear of escalating the conflict.
She seems to be addressing this, saying: “Some argue that we should not provide heavy weapons for fear of provoking something worse.
“But my opinion is that inaction would be the biggest provocation. It is a time for courage, not caution.”
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47:32 In this special program, we are talking to experts in Russia and the United Kingdom about what will happen next in Ukraine.
Her speech came after the 63rd day of battles in which Kherson was particularly hard hit.
At one point, Russian television channels were shut down after a series of explosions in the southern city, which has been occupied by Russian troops since the start of the war.
His state news agency, RIA Novosti, reported that rockets and rockets had been fired from the direction of Ukrainian forces in the northwest.
The online newspaper Ukrainskaya Pravda reported that the strikes caused a fire and took off the air Russian channels, which began broadcasting from Kherson last week.
Image: Nikola Nahorni tries to restore what is left of his belongings in his house, which he said was destroyed by Russian shelling
Meanwhile, President Vladimir Putin has warned of “lightning-fast” revenge against any country that intervenes in the conflict.
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Putin ‘s stern warning to the West
Addressing the Council of Legislators in St. Petersburg, the Russian leader said that “all goals will definitely be met” in the war in Ukraine.
He said: “If someone intends to intervene in what is happening from the outside, he must know that this is an unacceptable strategic threat to Russia.
“They need to know that our response to the counterattacks will be lightning fast.
He also promised that the goals of his military operation in Ukraine would be achieved.
“I want to emphasize again that all the tasks of the special military operation we are conducting in Donbass and Ukraine … will be unconditionally fulfilled.
Image: Situation on the 63rd day of the war in Ukraine
In key developments:
- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrives in Ukrainian capital Kyiv ahead of talks with President Vladimir Zelensky
- Russian missiles hit an arms depot containing weapons from the United States and European countries, Moscow claims
- The commander, hidden at the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, called for a Dunkirk-style evacuation, saying the situation there was dire.
- The former Ukrainian city of Severodonetsk has become a major target for Russian forces
- Now the United Kingdom has sent more than 5,000 anti-tank missiles to Ukraine – the Ministry of Defense
- Russia has expelled eight Japanese and three Norwegian diplomats
- Russia has cut off natural gas to NATO members, Poland and Bulgaria – and threatened to do the same for other countries
There are growing concerns about some 100,000 civilians still living in the besieged city of Mariupol.
Following a meeting between UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and President Putin, an agreement was reached in principle that the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross should participate in the evacuation of civilians from the besieged steel plant in the southeastern city.
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UN spokesman Stefan Dujarric said that during their one-on-one meeting, Guterres and Putin “discussed proposals for humanitarian aid and the evacuation of civilians from conflict zones, namely in connection with the situation in Mariupol.”
Azovstal’s extensive steel production has been almost completely destroyed by Russian attacks, but it is the last pocket of organized Ukrainian resistance in Mariupol.
It is estimated that about 2,000 soldiers and 1,000 civilians were hidden in bunkers under the destroyed structure.
Mr Guterres will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later today.
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