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.
