We already have a wealth of experience in this rapidly developing area, deploying drones in Ukraine and across the globe."
Yes, of course it is always better – as Churchill said – to do things in concert with the Americans. But these are UK weapons, paid for by the UK taxpayer, and we should have the guts to decide how they can be used,
This lightning dash into the Kursk region reminds us of the key truth about the whole war: that from the beginning we have always underestimated the Ukrainians. We have underestimated their gift of surprise, the way they ruthlessly kept their latest plan a secret. We have underestimated their boldness – their willingness to do what people have thought impossible,
The only way to stop the glide bombs is to hit the air bases used by those Russian planes; and the only way to hit those bases is to use the Western kit they already have. The Ukrainians have the ATACMS system from the US, they have bunker-busting Storm Shadow missiles from the UK. What they do not have is the permissions they need to use those missiles against their tormentors,
This is a war, and therefore, Ukraine will use the equipment it deems necessary at any time,
Ukrainians know best how to defend their homeland, and we’re committed to supporting their capacity,
Our military aid for Ukraine is the best investment in our security. It reduces Russian threat potential every day. It prevents Ukrainian civilians from becoming refugees,
We need to inflict significant tactical defeats on Russia. In the Kursk region, we clearly see how the military tool is objectively used to convince the Russian Federation to enter into a fair negotiation process.”
There has been no change in UK government policy, under article 51 of the UN charter Ukraine has a clear right of self-defence against Russia’s illegal attacks, [and] that does not preclude operations inside Russia,
Samples of small arms manufactured by the United States and Sweden have been seized at the liquidation site of a Ukrainian sabotage group near the village of Kremyanoe in the Kursk region,
The operation in the Kursk region was also planned with the participation of Nato and western special services,
Our Ukrainian drones work exactly as they should, but unfortunately, there are things that cannot be done with drones alone,
We'll have a clearer picture in the weeks ahead,
The use of U.S. weapons in Kursk, in Ukraine or anywhere else - for us - is an act of escalation and it will have serious consequences, we are being absolutely blunt about this with our U.S. colleagues. They know our opposition,
It complicates the policy the more they progress into Russia without defined terms,
The Biden administration sees that they've been able to manage the escalation ladder extremely effectively since the outset of the war,
We have been very, very clear and consistent that we really want to see Ukraine focus on defending themselves against this aggression inside of course their borders,
It's not unusual for them to do things without letting us know."
We don't encourage and we don't enable attacks outside of Ukraine except for in those exigent circumstances where we believe just over the border they're facing some imminent threats,
We make clear during the gifting process that equipment is to be used in line with international law,