Nato allies must agree “in concert” any response to the threat of chemical weapons being deployed in Ukraine, Michael Gove has said. The Communities Secretary would not be drawn into how the UK would respond to a chemical attack on Ukraine when asked about it by broadcasters.
Polish president Andrzej Duda warned that Vladimir Putin could use “anything” including chemical weapons in the war in Ukraine. Mr Gove said it is known that Mr Putin is capable of “terrible, terrible violence”, but that it was not for him to specify how the UK Government would respond to a chemical attack on Ukraine.
Asked what the UK would do if Russia “crosses the red line”, he 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.” He added: “It would be a response specifically targeted to deal with that escalation, but I’m not going to spell out myself what that response is.”
