Deepshikha Maan, Jadetimes Staff
D. Maan is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Asia
Sir Keir Starmer Russia Can End Ukraine Conflict "Straight Away"
Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the UK Labour party, has restated that Russia has the authority to bring an end to the violence in Ukraine and called for an urgent halt of hostilities. He made these comments in reaction to previous statements made by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who cautioned that Moscow would perceive Western missile attacks on Russia as a substantial intensification of the armed conflict.
The Warning Issued by Putin Regarding NATO Involvement
During a televised speech, Putin proposed that the employment of Western missiles to attack targets within Russia would signify the active involvement of NATO members, including the United States and European nations, in the battle. "This would imply nothing other than the active involvement of NATO Member States in the conflict in Ukraine," he declared, emphasising that this change would profoundly transform the essence of the war. Putin expressed that Russia would retaliate suitably to any dangers presented by such activities.
Russia initiated the conflict and has the ability to terminate it.
While en route to Washington for negotiations with US President Joe Biden, Sir Keir underscored Russia's responsibility for the crisis and its ability to bring it to an end. "The conflict was initiated by Russia." Russia engaged in an unlawful invasion of Ukraine. "Russia has the ability to promptly resolve this conflict," he advised. The Labour leader repeatedly emphasised Russia's culpability for the war, asserting, "They are the sole instigators of the conflict and are engaging in illegal actions."
Starmer is in Washington as part of a comprehensive diplomatic initiative, where important allies of Ukraine are actively deliberating on the potential authorisation for Ukraine to deploy Western missiles against Russian targets. Such a decision has the potential to profoundly change the dynamics of the current conflict.
Strategic Initiatives in Response to Escalating Threats
The UK government, in collaboration with the US and other allies, is meticulously considering the appropriate course of action to address Iran's increasing backing of Russia through the provision of weaponry. During his visit to Kyiv, Foreign Secretary David Lammy has been actively consulting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the consequences of Iran's participation. Lammy emphasised that the backing from Iran is altering the ongoing discussion and necessitates immediate attention.
After engaging in discussions in Washington, Starmer is scheduled to meet Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni in Rome, since Italy presently serves as the rotating president of the G7. Additionally, he is anticipated to participate in the yearly United Nations General Assembly in New York, where international leaders will convene to deliberate on global issues, including the events unfolding in Ukraine.
The Discourse Surrounding Western Missiles
Central to the ongoing debate is the question of whether Ukraine should be permitted to employ Western weapons, namely the Anglo French Storm Shadow cruise missile, for the purpose of targeting targets inside Russia. Historically, this action has been deliberately avoided because of concerns about inciting a direct conflict between NATO and Russia. Nevertheless, as winter draws near and Russia gets further backing from Iran, Western policymakers seem to be reevaluating their position.
During a recent news conference, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak alluded to potential advancements in this domain, stating, "There are highly significant future developments expected in the next weeks and months, both in Ukraine and the Middle East." Despite acknowledging that tactical decisions were being made, he refrained from explicitly confirming if the matter of Western missile strikes was on the menu.
Vladimir Putin's Critique on NATO's Function
In his latest speech, Putin expressed disapproval of NATO's participation, asserting that Ukraine lacks the capacity to carry out accurate, long range attacks without the support of Western powers. He underlined that Ukrainian forces are unable to operate sophisticated missile systems without access to intelligence data supplied by NATO satellites, and further accused NATO of active involvement in the conflict.
Notwithstanding these increasing tensions, Starmer and other Western leaders persist in underlining that the war was initiated by Russia and that Moscow has the ability to resolve the crisis.
This current diplomatic effort exemplifies the persistent intricacies of the war in Ukraine, as Western allies negotiate challenging choices on military assistance while striving to avert the hostilities from escalating into a more extensive clash between NATO and Russia.
