UK PM Burnham calls for deeper allied air defence support for Ukraine
British PM Andy Burnham urged allies to dig into air defence stocks to protect Ukraine from Russian missile attacks, and called for more sanctions on Russian energy.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham used his first meeting co-chairing the Coalition of the Willing to press allies for a stronger collective effort to protect Ukrainian skies. Speaking in London on Monday, he called on partner nations to "do everything we can" and draw from their own air defence inventories to counter Russian missile strikes.
Burnham framed the request as a direct response to Moscow's current tactics. He said Russian President Vladimir Putin is now attempting to win through a campaign of terror using ballistic missiles against Ukrainian civilians. Such an approach, Burnham argued, can never be a legitimate route to victory, and the coalition must send a clear message rejecting it.
The Prime Minister stressed that the effort should extend beyond the coalition's existing members. He said there is a need to work with allies outside the group as well, and to dig into national stocks of air defence systems to protect Ukraine from the missiles falling now.
Beyond military support, Burnham also called for additional sanctions on Russian oil and liquefied natural gas exports. He said increasing economic pressure on Moscow is necessary to complement the military assistance and sustain pressure on the Kremlin.