Ignore Putin's red lines – now is the time for UK to act decisively to help Ukraine
Ex-Army officer and defence analyst Hamish de Bretton-Gordon argues the West should ignore Moscow and go all-in with its support for Ukraine.
Sir Keir Starmer is learning quickly what it means to be in government.
With Labour's crushing victory now firmly in the rear-view mirror, the new team must get down to the business of running the country and acting responsibly around the world as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.
Most pressing for the defence and security of this country now – and in future – is what happens in Ukraine.
It is clear that our conventional military capabilities are no deterrence for tyrants like Putin, and this must be addressed with urgency.
The new Defence Review, in time, will hopefully come up with a sensible approach, but defence must be given the resources now and not "when the situation allows".
For too long, Western leaders have been seduced into thinking and acting as though Putin is going to unleash his nuclear arsenal on the West at any moment.
He is not.
Now, after more than two-and-a-half years of constant threats, surely Starmer and the most timid leaders in Europe must realise these Russian red lines are only mirages on the distant horizon?
Dropping the ball
The first duty of the Prime Minister is the defence and security of this country, and there are signs he may be dropping the ball here.
The UK has led the way in the West's support of Ukraine, and previous prime ministers have been more valued by President Zelensky than most.
So in Ukraine's absolute hour of need, Westminster is in danger of dropping this globally incendiary ball as well.
Perhaps it is ironic, or maybe fortunate, that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in London this week ahead of Sir Keir Starmer's visit to Washington to discuss Ukraine with the outgoing president.
But Blinken is not just here about Ukraine, but also Israel, and I expect this is Starmer's best bargaining chip to ensure that British Storm Shadow missiles can be used by Ukraine to attack strategic targets in Russia.
Britain's ban on some arms exports to Israel has not gone down well in Washington, with some no doubt thinking Starmer appears to be backing Hamas and Hezbollah above a sovereign country – and one that's historically one of our closest allies.
Of course, it is not that simple, but grand strategic diplomacy and politics rarely are.
Quid pro quo
It is clear that the US is less concerned with Putin's red lines, most especially with 3,000 miles of Atlantic Ocean in between.
The US is well out of range of Russian tactical nukes – and, in fact, so are the British Isles, with most weapon ranges being around 400 miles.
So why such angst in London when foreign minister Lavrov and ex-premier Medvedev threaten us with attack?
Much, no doubt, can be explained by the inexperience of the new team, but they need to wise up fast and act, knowing the red lines will evaporate as quickly as they appear.
Most immediately the UK must take the shackles off Ukraine and allow all our weapons to be used to strike targets in Russia.
And if the prime minister needs the comfort blanket of Biden's approval, then fair enough, but he may need to support the US stance on Israel more clearly as the quid pro quo.
When the new, and militarily inexperienced Cabinet discuss the crisis in the Middle East, and some in their midst shout loudest to cut Israel adrift and appease Iran, we must hope that they listen to the quieter and more thoughtful voices who urge an approach that leads to long-term peace rather than short-term internal political kudos.
Better the devil we know?
Many academics and intellectuals on the periphery of this debate shout loudly that Putin is the devil we know – and any replacement will be worse.
They might be philosophically correct, but in actuality they are wrong.
The next Russian leader may be evil personified, but Putin has destroyed its army, spy agencies and economy, which will take another tyrant a generation to rebuild.
And maybe, just maybe, the Russian people will look at our imperfect democracy in the West and decide it is more favourable to the many than their "perfect" autocracy in the East which only benefits the favoured few.
Now is the time to act decisively in Ukraine's favour, to ensure peace in Europe as soon as possible.
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