Campaigners and MPs handed in a letter to Downing Street calling on the government to withdraw the use of British-supplied missiles in Ukraine ahead of tomorrow’s emergency Ukraine-Nato council meeting in Brussels.
It comes after the US authorised the use of long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), while Britain has permitted the use of Storm Shadow missiles on Russian territory.
Russia then launched a new hypersonic ballistic “Oreshnik” missile into Ukraine and approved a new doctrine which lowers the threshold for a nuclear strike.
The letter to Downing Street calls on the government to withdraw the use of its Storm Shadow missiles and use its influence in support of a ceasefire and peace negotiations.
Diane Abbott MP, who signed the letter, said: “Hundreds of thousands of people have lost their lives in this conflict.
“Instead of risking an all-out confrontation … Starmer should act on the wishes of the Ukrainian people, a majority of whom want an urgent end to the conflict through peace talks.”
Independent MP Jeremy Corbyn, who also signed the letter, said: “As we edge closer and closer to catastrophe, we should be doing everything in our power to bring about de-escalation and peace.
“Instead, our political leaders are adding fuel to the fire and gambling with people’s lives for political gain.”
Stop the War Coalition convener Lindsey German said: “The firing of US and UK missiles into Russia is a terrifying development which escalates the Ukraine war and demonstrates our own government’s direct involvement in the conflict.
“We face a greater threat of nuclear war than for more than 50 years.”
Source: Morning Star
