‘We won’t allow a gun to be put to Ukraine’s head’
Britain stands firm as three European leaders visit Kyiv to promise support as it battles to repel invaders
THE West must prevent Ukraine having a gun “put to its head” by Moscow in peace talks, Britain warned yesterday as the leaders of France, Germany and Italy visited the country for the first time since Russia invaded.
Emmanuel Macron has claimed that France will be a “mediating power” in any negotiations but Ukraine fears the visiting leaders may pressure Kyiv to agree to a quick and unjust peace deal in order to protect their economies.
“We stand with the Ukrainians without ambiguity. Ukraine must resist and win,” the French president said in an attempt to draw a line under criticism he has faced for warning Moscow could not be “humiliated” in defeat.
The leaders strongly backed awarding Ukraine “candidate status” to become members of the EU. Mr Scholz said: “We came to Kyiv today with a clear message: Ukraine belongs to the European family. Germany wants a positive decision in favour of Ukraine as an EU candidate country.”
Speaking at a meeting of Nato defence ministers in Brussels, Ben Wallace, the Defence Secretary, said it was for Ukraine to choose “the manner and level of its negotiations” and it was vital it did that from a position of strength.
“It is not for us to impose a view but it is also for us to protect Ukraine from effectively having a gun to its head when it is supposed to negotiate,” he said as the UK announced it was sending more than 20 Belgian long-range, self-propelled weapons to Ukraine.
Liz Truss, the Foreign Secretary, said: “Some outside Ukraine are questioning whether the free world can sustain its support and claiming that some are beginning to tire of this war.” Ms Truss announced sanctions after the forced transfer and adoption in Russia of 2,000 Ukrainian children removed from the Luhansk and Donetsk regions.
Kyiv has accused France, Germany and, to a lesser extent, Italy, of dragging their feet in their support for Ukraine, accusing them of being slow to deliver weapons.
Ukraine also wants fresh sanctions imposed on Moscow.
At a joint news conference with Mr Macron, Olaf Scholz, chancellor of Germany, and Mario Draghi, Italy’s prime minister, Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s president, said, “Every day of delay or postponed decisions is an opportunity for the Russian military to kill Ukrainians or destroy our cities. There is a direct correlation: the more powerful weapons we receive, the faster we can liberate … our land.”
Mr Macron announced he would send six additional artillery systems to Kyiv and promised that Europe would stand by Ukraine until it was victorious. Germany has promised multiplelaunch rocket systems.
Mr Scholz has dismissed allegations he has held back much-needed military support, saying Germany was one of the biggest military and financial backers of Ukraine. He said German support would continue “as long as it is necessary for Ukraine’s fight”.
In May, Mr Zelensky said he had rejected a suggestion from Mr Macron that Ukraine would have to cede territory to Russia in peace talks.
In an interview with TF1 television last night, Mr Macron appeared to contradict his previous remarks, saying Ukraine alone should decide whether or not to accept any territorial concessions.
“This is up to Ukraine to decide,” Macron said when asked what concessions, including on its territory, Ukraine should accept, adding: “I think it is our duty to stand by our values, by international law and thus by Ukraine.”