Royal Navy destroyer tracks Russian ships within the Channel as Keir Starmer says Kyiv is on an ‘irreversible’ path to becoming a member of NATO
A Royal Navy warship has been tracking a Russian convoy in the English Channel as it carries military equipment back from their former bases in Syria.
Over the past six month, HMS Iron Duke has done this on average once a fortnight with the latest ships being monitored since the early hours of yesterday morning.
The Aleksandr Otrakovsky, a landing ship and carrier, is able to carry up to 500 tonnes of armored vehicles and its gunner positions were manned as it travelled in the English Channel.
Two other cargo vessels were part of the convoy with three others splitting off in the hours before.
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary and patrol vessel HMS Tyne helped follow the convoy while a Wildcat helicopter from 815 Naval Air Squadron heled to gather intelligence.
Speaking to ITV News, Captain Commander David Armstrong said: ‘I think it’s fair to say in the last five years the number of Russian vessels transiting through UK waters has increased.
‘It certainly isn’t my place to be addressing Russia directly, but my point to any non-allied warship, as a frigate captain in the Royal Navy, is that if you’re transiting through our waters, and there was any possibility you could pose a threat to us, you should expect the Royal Navy to be very close at hand.’
It comes as Keir Starmer insisted Kyiv is on an ‘irreversible path’ to joining Nato as he vowed solidarity after Trump’s bombshell call with Putin.
HMS Iron Duke (foreground) shadows a Russian ship in the English Channel (file image)
Keir Starmer spelled out his view that there can be ‘no talks about Ukraine without Ukraine’ as he spoke to Volodymyr Zelensky yesterday morning
Mr Zelensky has been warning that the US does not appear to have a plan for a peace deal
The PM spelled out his view that there can be ‘no talks about Ukraine without Ukraine’ as he spoke to Volodymyr Zelensky yesterday morning.
The intervention puts the UK firmly alongside European allies in signalling concerns about the stance being developed by the US.
Mr Trump and the Russian dictator had ‘a lengthy and highly productive’ phone conversation earlier this week, during which they agreed that talks to end the conflict should start ‘immediately’.
But any peace deal is expected to see Russia keep territory it has annexed since 2014, including the Crimean peninsula – a huge blow to Kyiv after three years of fighting for freedom.
There was also deep disquiet that Ukraine joining Nato – an official policy of the alliance – had been effectively ruled out.
Meanwhile, Mr Trump is demanding that European Nato powers commit to spending 5 per cent of GDP on defence – a level the US itself does not reach. The UK is one of the biggest spenders but has yet to set out a timetable to hit 2.5 per cent.
A Downing Street spokeswoman said Sir Keir and Mr Zelensky spoke yesterday morning, ahead of an anticipated meeting between the Ukraine leader and US Vice President JD Vance in Munich later.
‘The Prime Minister began by reiterating the UK’s concrete support for Ukraine, for as long as it’s needed.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy met US Vice President JD Vance at the Munich Security Conference yesterday morning
Sir Keir had an impromptu phone chat with Mr Trump on Thursday night, after being handed the phone by the US envoy during their dinner
Mr Trump and the Russian dictator had ‘a lengthy and highly productive’ phone conversation earlier this week, during which they agreed that talks to end the conflict should start ‘immediately’
‘He was unequivocal that there could be no talks about Ukraine, without Ukraine.
‘Ukraine needed strong security guarantees, further lethal aid and a sovereign future, and it could count on the UK to step up, he added.
‘The Prime Minister reiterated the UK’s commitment to Ukraine being on an irreversible path to NATO, as agreed by Allies at the Washington Summit last year.
‘Discussing the upcoming third anniversary of Ukraine’s courageous defence of its sovereignty in the face of Russia’s barbaric full-scale invasion, the leaders agreed that it would be an important moment to demonstrate international unity and support for Ukraine.
‘The leaders also reflected on the Prime Minister’s visit to Kyiv last month, and the President updated on his plans at Munich Security Conference.
‘They agreed to stay in close contact.’
Meeting Vice President JD Vance at the Munich Security Conference yesterday morning, Foreign Secretary David Lammy described the US-UK relationship as ‘more than just an alliance, it’s a covenant between two partners’.
He added: ‘We are committed to increasing defence and encourage our friends across Europe to do the same, and of course we have got important issues to discuss on Ukraine and how we support Ukraine at this difficult moment, and also broader issues of UK-US security.’
Mr Vance said: ‘Honestly, we have a lot in common, and the special relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States will remain very strong.
‘We are going to talk about something that he and I spoke about a couple of years ago, which is our shared belief that Europe really should take a big role in its own security, and I’m glad the Foreign Secretary agrees with me on that.
‘I think there are other issues of common agreement, I’m sure we will talk about Russia-Ukraine.’
Politicians from across parties voiced alarm in the Commons on Thursday after the US president’s call with Putin.
