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.”
President Duda, meanwhile, 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.”
The Polish premier added that Putin has lost the war “politically” and is not winning it “militarily”. He said: “This is what most experts have been saying. Politically he has already lost this war and militarily he is not winning it.
“Although one can say that there is a gigantic advantage of the Russian army over the Ukrainian army. If you take a piece of paper and you do the math, then they have a crushing, overwhelming majority, but they are not able to win the war.”
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. He told Sky News: “What I have seen already amounts to war crimes. Particularly the awful attacks on civilians.
“I think it is very important he is held to account and is responsible, and all those that are acting with him know that they too will be held to account. This is something which we need to make clear now so that those who are involved at the moment know what the consequences are.”
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.
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