Russia will be at “war with Nato” if it bombs any of the military alliance’s territory, Sajid Javid has warned – after Sunday’s missile attack just 15 miles from Ukraine’s border with Poland.
The health secretary said the West had made clear its response if any Nato member is attacked, stating: “Then it will be war with Nato and Nato would respond.”
The comment came after more than 35 people were killed by more than 30 missiles that targeted a training facility in Yavoriv, close to the Polish border, with more than 130 people injured.
The deadly strike came less than 24 hours after Moscow threatened to target foreign weapons shipments helping Ukrainian fighters defend their country.
Mr Javid said Nato had drawn the red line before the invasion, adding: “That hasn’t changed throughout this conflict, there would be a significant response from Nato.”
However, he refused to be drawn on what Nato will do if Russia uses chemical or biological weapons within Ukraine – which some have said must also trigger a military response.
“I’m not going to get into a hypothetical situation about what may or may not happen,” Mr Javid told Sky News.
He argued it would not be “helpful” to do so, adding: “We wouldn’t want to tell the enemy what the response might be. It just wouldn’t make any sense.”
The health secretary also defended Boris Johnson’s expected trip to Saudi Arabia this week, to push for the kingdom to release more oil to ease the energy crisis following the invasion.
The timing of the visit will be controversial because Saudi Arabia – apparently taking advantage of the world’s focus on the plight of Ukraine – executed 81 people in a single day.
Mr Javid insisted it is possible for the UK to have a “very candid and frank relationship” with the country, while also pressing for human rights improvements there.
“It’s a very important country for us. And I think it is right that the prime minister is leading this effort to engage Saudi Arabia even more so in the events that we’re seeing unfolding now,” he argued.
The health secretary said he is considering whether he could host Ukrainian refugees in his home – but suggested he would be too busy.
The sponsorship scheme, allowing British households to offer places to someone without family ties to the UK, will finally get underway at the end of this week.
“I’m starting to have a conversation with my wife on that and I think many households - as you say, and I’m pleased you brought this up – are probably thinking about this across the country,” Mr Javid said.
“It’s important that anyone that becomes a host that they can fulfil the obligations of a host, that they can spend time with these families and help, but there are many ways that we can all help.”
The Independent has a proud history of campaigning for the rights of the most vulnerable, and we first ran our Refugees Welcome campaign during the war in Syria in 2015. Now, as we renew our campaign and launch this petition in the wake of the unfolding Ukrainian crisis, we are calling on the government to go further and faster to ensure help is delivered. To find out more about our Refugees Welcome campaign, click here. To sign the petition click here. If you would like to donate then please click here for our GoFundMe page.
