Gove: UK must work in concert with allies against threat of Russian chemical weapons

NATO allies must agree "in concert" any response to the threat of chemical weapons being deployed in Ukraine, Michael Gove has said.

Asked what the UK would do if Russia used chemical weapons, the Communities Secretary told Sky's Sophy Ridge on Sunday: "Our response is something that will be agreed in concert with our allies and it's not for me at this stage – and I can completely understand your desire for clarity – but it's not for me to spell out in advance of NATO and our allies being clear about what the response is."

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said that President Putin had "already" committed war crimes when asked what the response to a chemical weapon attack should be.

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He told Sky News: "What I have seen already amounts to war crimes. Particularly the awful attacks on civilians."

Asked if NATO should do more in the event that Russia uses chemical weapons, Sir Keir said the UK "shouldn't be speculating" during the conflict but should work "in lockstep" with allies.

Meanwhile, Polish president Andrzej Duda warned that Vladimir Putin could use "anything", including chemical weapons, in the war in Ukraine.

President Duda told BBC's Sunday Morning show: "This is something that the world has not seen on this scale since the Second World War.

"If you're asking can Putin use chemical weapons, I think that Putin can use anything right now, especially because he's in a very difficult situation."

Video thumbnail: Russian MOD.