US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy presented a united front on Tuesday regarding the situations in Ukraine and the Middle East. Blinken, currently in London for talks with Lammy and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, emphasized the importance of these conflicts during their joint press conference at the UK Foreign Office.
The war in Ukraine dominated the discussions, especially with Russia’s relentless assault on the strategic city of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine. To demonstrate their support, Lammy announced a joint trip to Kyiv this week, marking the first such visit by top officials from both countries in over a decade. “On Russia and Ukraine, today I can confirm that Tony and I will be traveling to Kyiv this week – the first joint visit of this kind for well over a decade. We are the closest of allies, so I’m delighted that we will travel together, demonstrating our commitment to Ukraine,” said Lammy.
Blinken and Lammy also expressed their unified opposition to Iran’s escalating involvement in both the Middle East and Ukraine. They condemned Iran’s support for terrorist groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, which have destabilized the Middle East and fueled conflict with Israel. Additionally, they highlighted Iran’s arms supply to Russia for use in the war against Ukraine.
Ahead of the talks, the US-UK discussions were characterized as strategic in nature, not focused on immediate tactical developments. Later in the day, Blinken is scheduled to meet with British Prime Minister Starmer.
Blinken underscored the critical juncture Ukraine faces as Russia presses forward with its invasion. He pointed out that Putin is resorting to his “winter playbook”, intensifying attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure ahead of the harshest months of winter, a strategy he referred to as the “weaponization of energy and electricity.”
Regarding Ukraine’s request to use long-range weapons for deeper strikes inside Russia, Lammy explained that the issue will be discussed during a meeting between Starmer and US President Joe Biden in Washington D.C. on Friday. This follows Lammy and Blinken’s visit to Kyiv, where they will also address the topic.
For months, Ukraine has sought permission to strike deep inside Russia using long-range weapons. While the UK has approved the use of British Storm Shadow missiles for such strikes, the United States has not yet given its consent, concerned about potential escalation.
The meeting and the planned Kyiv visit come at a critical time as Russia closes in on the city of Pokrovsk, a crucial logistical and industrial hub. Losing Pokrovsk could be disastrous for Ukrainian war efforts. Despite territorial gains in the Kursk region, Russia has not managed to significantly alleviate pressure on other fronts of the war.
Blinken stressed the growing threat of Iran, citing Iran’s supply of ballistic missiles to Russia and its plans to use them soon. He announced that the US will impose new sanctions on Iran for its actions. Blinken also expressed concern about the “growing cooperation between Russia and Iran” and its threat to European security, emphasizing that Iran’s destabilizing influence extends far beyond the Middle East.
Lammy echoed the US stance, stating that the UK and US are “completely aligned on the need to tackle Iran’s malign activity in the region and beyond.” He also emphasized their shared commitment to securing a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and pursuing a two-state solution for Israeli-Palestinian peace.
The joint visit to Kyiv and the unified stance on Iran demonstrate the strong US-UK alliance and their commitment to addressing global security challenges.
