Sir Keir Starmer says Russia started Ukraine war and ‘could end the conflict straight away’
Sir Keir Starmer has said that Russia started the Ukraine war and “could end the conflict straight away”.
The prime minister has arrived in Washington DC for talks with President Joe Biden at the White House over the ongoing conflict.
Sir Keir has backed Kyiv’s right to defend itself after Russian leader Vladimir Putin suggested his country would be “at war” with NATO if the West allows long-range weapons to be used against it.
Politics live: Starmer reveals NHS plan
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Putin: ‘It will mean the direct participation of NATO’
The PM said the UK does not “seek any conflict with Russia”, before adding: “That’s not our intention in the slightest.”
The UK has been providing Ukraine with Storm Shadow cruise missiles since last year but, like the US, it does not allow the country to launch the weapons against sites in Russia amid fears of escalation.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been calling for restrictions to be lifted on the use of such missiles against targets in Russia, which launched a full-scale invasion of his country in February 2022.
On Thursday, President Putin said allowing long-range strikes “would mean that NATO countries, the US, and European countries are at war with Russia… if this is so, then, bearing in mind the change in the very essence of this conflict, we will make appropriate decisions based on the threats that will be created for us”.
Responding to his remarks, Sir Keir told reporters on the flight to the US: “Russia started this conflict. Russia illegally invaded Ukraine. Russia could end this conflict straight away.
“Ukraine has the right to self-defence and we’ve obviously been absolutely fully supportive of Ukraine’s right to self-defence – we’re providing training capability.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
‘We need more’, Zelenskyy tells allies
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and US secretary of state Antony Blinken held talks with President Zelenskyy in Kyiv earlier this week as Ukraine continued to appeal to the two countries to change their stance – especially in light of American intelligence that Russia had received a shipment of weapons from Iran.
But while neither politician would reveal any decision, both Mr Lammy and Mr Blinken confirmed they would pass on the message to their respective leaders before they met at the end of the week, with the latter telling Sky News that President Biden was “not ruling out” moving his position.
Antony Blinken (l) and David Lammy (r) met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (c) for talks this week. Pic: Reuters
It will also be the first time Sir Keir and President Biden meet after the UK government chose to ban some weapons export licences to Israel amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Mr Lammy announced the decision in the Commons last week after legal advice to the government said there was a “clear risk” they might be used to commit “a serious violation of international humanitarian law”.
But he faced a backlash, both from MPs who thought the move undermined the UK’s support for Israel and from MPs who wanted the ban to cover all weapons export licences.
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
On the same day, President Biden said a final hostage deal between Israel and Hamas was “very close” – but that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was not doing enough to secure an agreement.
“Democrats legacy: A loss of more than $18.5 billion in unrealized value for American taxpayers,” the senator wrote on social media.
AI agent plans assassination on dark web, are social robots just sex robots, artificial vagina prize, Brad Pitt deepfakes and more: AI Eye
MP Mike Amesbury has pleaded guilty to assault by beating for punching a man in Cheshire.
The Runcorn and Helsby MP appeared at Chester Magistrates’ Court on Thursday morning where he admitted attacking 45-year-old Paul Fellows in Main Street, Frodsham, Cheshire, in October.
Speaking outside the court, he said his actions were “highly regrettable” and he was “sincerely sorry” to Mr Fellows and his family.
Politics latest: Russian drones strike Kyiv during PM’s visit
CCTV footage showed Amesbury, who has been an MP since 2017, punching Mr Fellows to the ground.
Other previously released videos from another angle show Amesbury punching Mr Fellows repeatedly after knocking him to the floor as members of the public intervened.
It was reported to police at 2.48pm on Saturday 26 October.
The court heard how Amesbury told Mr Fellows “you won’t threaten your MP again” after punching him in the head with enough force to knock him to the ground.
The 55-year-old politician is currently an independent MP after he was suspended by Labour at the end of October when the CCTV footage emerged.
After admitting assault, the Labour Party confirmed his suspension will continue and he will remain an independent MP.
Reform UK said Amesbury should “do the honourable thing and resign immediately so a by-election can be held”.
The PM’s official spokesperson declined to comment on whether the MP should resign.
Pic: Richard Townshend/UK Parliament/PA
Punch followed chat about bridge closure
The court heard Mr Fellows recognised Amesbury in the taxi rank in Frodsham town centre at about 2am on 26 October last year.
Both were alone and had been drinking.
Alison Storey, prosecuting, said Mr Fellows approached the MP to remonstrate about a bridge closure in the town and CCTV then shows they spoke for several minutes but there was no aggression or raised voices.
Mr Fellows then started to walk away but Amesbury re-engaged and was heard saying “what” a few times before shouting it.
The victim then put his hands in his pockets and turned towards the taxi queue and when he turned back Amesbury punched him in the head, knocking him to the ground.
He then punched Mr Fellows again, at least five times, Ms Storey said.
She told the court he was then heard saying “you won’t threaten your MP again will you”.
Amesbury was voluntarily interviewed under caution by Cheshire Police in October and was charged with common assault on 7 November.
At the time, Amesbury said what happened was “deeply regrettable” and that he was cooperating with police.
Read more:
Starmer makes surprise visit to Kyiv to sign 100-year deal
PM rules out emergency budget as he defends chancellor
‘It is right he has taken responsibility’
A Labour Party spokesman said: “It is right that Mike Amesbury has taken responsibility for his unacceptable actions.
“He was rightly suspended by the Labour Party following the announcement of the police investigation.
“We cannot comment further whilst legal proceedings are still ongoing.”
Amesbury is set to be sentenced next month. If he is sent to prison or given a suspended sentence, he could lose his seat in the Commons.
A sentence of less than a year, even if it is suspended, would leave him liable to the recall process, which would trigger a by-election if 10% of registered voters in his seat sign a petition calling for it.
A jail term of more than a year would mean he automatically loses his seat.
-
Sports2 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports10 months agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports1 year agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports3 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business2 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway