British Foreign Secretary, David Lammy has denounced Russia’s actions in Ukraine, calling it “imperialism” and “fascism”
Speaking at a press conference in Kyiv, Lammy averred, “Putin’s barbaric actions are the latest example of a very old and evil story.”
“One of my ancestors was taken from their home, enslaved, chained on a ship and forced to work for the profit of a foreign empire. He knew only too well what imperialism was,” he added.
“No act of authoritarianism is ever exactly the same, but 80 years after Stalin deported the Crimean Tartars, 240 years after Catherine the Great annexed Crimea, (Vladimir) Putin has revealed the same arrogance, the same greed and the same disdain for the rights of others individuals and nations.
“This is imperialism. This is fascism.”
David Lammy
Iterating allegations against Iran, Lammy noted, “And this week we have been reminded of how other authoritarian regimes are aiding Putin with Iran going even further in support for Moscow by providing ballistic missiles, a significant and dangerous escalation.”
Concern about escalation has been one of the reasons why permission has not been given to Kyiv to use western long-range weapons to strike targets inside Russia.
US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken said, “Just speaking for the United States, from day one …. we have adjusted and adapted as needs have changed as the battlefield has changed, and I have no doubt that we’ll continue to do that as this, as this evolves.”
“We’ve seen Russia now pursue and indeed escalate its attacks inside Ukraine, on civilians, on energy infrastructure, as well as on the Ukrainian military that’s defending its country.
“And we’ve now seen this action of Russia acquiring ballistic missiles from Iran, which will further empower their aggression in Ukraine. So if anyone is taking escalatory action, it would appear to be Mr Putin and Russia.”
Antony Blinken
Lammy said that “It is Putin who has escalated this week with the shipment of ballistic missiles from Iran.”
“And we’re seeing this new axis, Russia, Iran, North Korea. We urge China not to throw their lot in with this group of renegades,” he added.
Blinken announced more than $700 million in aid for Ukraine, aiming to bolster the energy grid that Russia has repeatedly pounded ahead of an expected difficult winter.
The $325m in energy support in the package will help repair and restore Ukraine’s power generation facilities, provide emergency backup power and strengthen the physical security of energy infrastructure.
Some $290m will fund food, water, shelter, health care and education programs for Ukrainians in need in the country and refugees outside the country. The remaining $102m will be used for mine-removal activities.
Britain Supportive Of Ukraine’s NATO Ambitions
Asked about Ukraine’s path to NATO, Lammy replied, “Britain (is) supportive of Ukraine’s ambitions in relation to NATO and the security guarantees that they necessarily need.”
“That’s why we worked very hard with our allies to get that irreversible pathway language into the text that we were able to agree back in July, just as the new Labour government came into power. And we will continue of course to discuss these things with our allies.”
David Lammy
He said that there was a “continued need to work with Ukraine on these fundamental reform issues that make its pathway to the European Union and to Nato more achievable in the medium term”.
On his part, Blinken stated, “To reiterate what the foreign secretary said, NATO allies came together, made clear that Ukraine’s path to NATO is irreversible, and now Ukraine is moving down that path.”
“I mentioned a few moments ago that for the first time in NATO’s history it has stood up a dedicated command whose purpose is to help NATO move down the path to membership. And that command is up and running. We have a representative here in Ukraine.”
Antony Blinken
“So all of that is moving forward,” he added.
READ ALSO: Oil Majors and Traders Scramble for Shell’s South African Assets
