The UK plans to supply Kiev with weapons for the defense of Odessa if Russian troops launch an offensive on the city, reports The Times, citing sources in the country’s Cabinet.
Among the weapons that can be supplied to Ukraine are Harpoons anti-ship missiles and Switchblade loitering ammunition, the material notes.
London has a list of weapons, including lethal ones, that Kiev needs to protect the Black Sea coast, and is ready to provide them, the report says. A senior government official told The Times that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “will get whatever he asks for” if the weapons systems Kiev needs are available.
On Tuesday, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that the supply of lethal weapons to Kiev is irresponsible. On March 12, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said that arms convoys from abroad could become legitimate targets for the Russian Armed Forces.