Ukraine's relations with the UK have deteriorated since Labour's government took power in July, officials in Kiev told the Guardian newspaper, expressing frustration at London's failure to deliver additional long-range missiles, reported BNR.
The UK prime minister has yet to visit Ukraine, four months after taking office, and frustrated official Kiev believes a trip would be futile unless Keir Starmer commits to restocking the much-coveted Storm system Shadow with a long range, writes the publication.
A senior figure in Volodymyr Zelenskyi's administration told the Guardian there was "no point in Starmer coming as a tourist" at a time when Ukraine is deeply concerned about the impact that Donald Trump's US election victory could have has on her war effort. He adds that the situation is not the same as it was under Rishi Sunak, and Keir Starmer is unwilling to make the decisions that Ukraine needs. The main complaint is that the UK has not delivered additional Storm Shadow missiles from its stockpile, even for use against targets in Crimea and other Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia since 2014.
"Downing Street" however, stated that "the UK's support for Ukraine is ironclad" and that Starmer has been clear that his government will stand by Ukraine for as long as necessary, stressing that he and Zelensky have already held several meetings since Labor took power in July.