Friday, July 19, 2024

Zelensky Receives Standing Ovation as First Foreign Leader to Address UK Cabinet Since 1997

Zelensky urged the UK to help boost Ukraine's "long-range capability," saying lifting restrictions on Western weapons would allow Ukraine to better defend against Russian offensives.


by AFP | July 19, 2024
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (2R), receives a standing ovation from Britain's Science and Innovation Secretary Peter Kyle (from L), Britain's Leader of the House of Commons Lucy Powell, Britain's Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service, Simon Case, Britain's Deputy Prime Minister and Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Secretary Angela Rayner, as he arrives with Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer to address Cabinet Ministres at an extraordinary meeting of the Cabinet at 10 Downing Street in central London on July 19, 2024. (Photo by Richard Pohle / POOL / AFP)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday received a standing ovation from senior ministers as he became the first foreign leader to address the British cabinet in person since 1997.

Zelensky gave members of the new Labour government a rundown of the latest situation in Ukraine after a red-carpet welcome at Prime Minister Keir Starmer's 10 Downing Street residence and office.

He and Starmer had a one-on-one meeting beforehand, in which he thanked Britain for its sustained backing for Kyiv since Russian forces invaded in February 2022.

"Thank for the invitation, for the privilege, for me to be here," he told Starmer, who led Labour to victory in elections two weeks ago and has reaffirmed UK support for Ukraine "for as along as it takes".

Zelensky on Thursday urged European leaders to remain united against Russian aggression, as he seeks more military help, including much-needed air firepower to push back Russian troops.

At Cabinet, dressed in his trademark army fatigues, and flanked on either side by Britain's Union flag and the blue-and-yellow flag of Ukraine, he renewed his call for help in boosting his country's "long-range capability".

"If the restrictions on using Western weapons against Russian military are lifted, we can strike further than just near the border," he told ministers.

That would allow Ukraine to "not only protect ourselves from any Russian offensives but also secure our frontline positions and cities from Russian bombs", he added.


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- Targets inside Russia-NATO member states, including the UK, have been hesitant about Ukraine using Western-supplied weapons such as missiles on targets inside Russia, for fear of escalating the conflict.

Britain has signalled that Ukrainian forces could use UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles for defensive strikes.

"We're providing weapons to Ukraine for their defence of their sovereign country. And that does not preclude them hitting targets in Russia," Defence Secretary John Healey told BBC radio.

"But that must be done by the Ukrainians, it must be done within the parameters and the bounds of international humanitarian law," added Healey, who visited Ukraine within days of his appointment.

The last foreign leader to address the British Cabinet in person was US president Bill Clinton in 1997 after Labour's Tony Blair swept to power, also in a landslide win over the Conservatives.

Zelensky's "historic address", as Starmer called it, came as 44 countries and the European Union agreed to target Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" of tankers seeking to evade sanctions on Russian oil.

The 600 or so vessels -- most of them old and unsafe -- transport 1.7 million barrels of oil per day, providing funding for the Russian war effort, but also allegedly carrying weapons.

Zelenskyy calls on Starmer to approve missiles

Ukraine leader is first to address a U.K. Cabinet meeting since Bill Clinton.



Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Keir Starmer and his senior ministers that being able to strike inside Russian territory would help prevent attacks on residential areas in Ukraine. | Kin Cheung - WPA Pool/Getty Images

JULY 19, 2024 
BY ESTHER WEBBER

LONDON — Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged Keir Starmer to “show your leadership” by lifting restrictions on Ukraine’s use of Western-made weapons as he addressed a meeting of the U.K. Cabinet Friday.

The Ukrainian president was invited to become the first foreign leader to speak at a British Cabinet meeting since Bill Clinton in 1997, in a show of solidarity with Kyiv from the new Labour government.

Zelenskyy told Starmer and his senior ministers that being able to strike inside Russian territory would help prevent attacks on residential areas in Ukraine.
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The U.S. and other nations have insisted that donated weapons are not to be used to hit most targets within Russia, fearing this could provoke a reaction from Vladimir Putin.

Speaking earlier to the BBC, Defense Secretary John Healey said the U.K.’s provision of weapons to Ukraine “does not preclude them hitting targets in Russia, but that must be done by the Ukrainians and must be done within the parameters and the bounds of international humanitarian law.”

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today program the government was having “intense discussions” on “complex questions” but said he would not go into the details in public.

Zelenskyy visited Downing Street after attending the European Political Community summit in Oxfordshire on Thursday, where allies agreed to take action against Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” of 600 tankers evading sanctions on Russian oil.

He was greeted in the Cabinet room with a standing ovation and thanked the British government for its ongoing support, which he said would help bring an end to the war with Russia.

Starmer described the occasion as “a very special moment for us to reiterate our support for you and the Ukrainian people.”

The pair held a private meeting before attending Cabinet, as Starmer seeks to strengthen their relationship in the face of worsening news for Zelenskyy on several fronts.

In the U.S, Republican nominee Donald Trump’s pick of JD Vance as his running mate has deepened fears about his support for Ukraine if the pair win back the White House in November. Meanwhile, Germany is poised to slash military aid to Kyiv amid sustained attacks by Russian forces in the east of Ukraine.

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