Thread by @paulwaugh

New: Defence Secretary @BWallaceMP announces to MPs that UK has decided to supply Star Streak high velocity anti aircraft missiles to Ukraine 🇺🇦 govt.
"It's vital that Ukraine retains its ability to fly."

Wallace adds that UK increasing direct humanitarian aid to Ukraine to make it the largest bilateral donor in the world.

.@JohnHealey_MP praises the decision to supply Star Streak missiles to Ukraine (and reveals he and @Keir_Starmer will travel to visit British troops in Estonia tonight)

Here's more on why the UK needs to do more to help Ukraine's airforce:

inews.co.uk/opinion/the-be…

Interesting update from @BWallaceMP on the supply of Uk Star Streak missiles to Ukraine 🇺🇦.
The decision has been made but UK missiles will also need to be accompanied with "training capability". Implication is we're still training Ukraine forces, but outside the country.

"It's a deeply bilateral decision" if Poland wants to supply MiGs, @BWallaceMP tells MPs. Makes crystal clear that UK will support Poland whatever it wants to do.

Asked by @hilarybennmp if aircraft are a defensive weapon, Wallace:
“It depends how you use those aircraft. If you are close air support to Kyiv then it’s obviously defensive, if you are seeking to entering another sovereign’s territory like the Russian airforce then it is not.”

That reply suggests that Wallace does indeed back Poland's rationale for gifting MiGs fighter planes to Ukraine, tho he repeats it's upto Poland to decide.

“If the Polish govt feels the security threat is so acute that it requires itself to do that I would fully understand their decision and stand by them," Wallace says.

Again more proof of Wallace's determination to stand by Poland: “Remember that countries that will face the direct consequence of a successful Russia in Ukraine are the bordering countries...

"...Because we know in Putin’s mind, some of those aren’t, in his ideas, genuine countries" @BWallaceMP says. "And some of those countries are the very countries he historically feels should either be punished or indeed should be coerced into his way of thinking.”
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