Boris Johnson eager to arm Ukraine for defence of Odesa

The British Prime Minister wants to supply anti-ship missiles to sink Russian warships to thwart Putin’s plans in the south by repulsing attacks by sea.

There are fears that Odesa could soon come under assault from the Russian navy in the Black Sea. Picture: AFP

Britain is pushing to arm Ukraine with anti-ship missiles to sink Russian warships and relieve coastal cities being bombarded from the sea as part of a “gear change” in the West’s approach.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has told ministers he wants to supply the weapons to prevent the Russians advancing on Odesa, just as British anti-tank missiles have been used to stall President Vladimir Putin’s efforts to take Kyiv.

A senior government source said: “We anticipated this mass column of tanks coming across what is a very flat expanse of landscape and that Kyiv would be taken in three days. The NLAWs (next-generation light anti-tank weapons) stopped that.

“They’re now concentrating on the south. The next target is Odesa. It’s not tanks which are going to come at Odesa. It’s going to be ships. NLAWs don’t work against ships, so what does? They want the kind of stuff that can take out ships.

“The PM is eager and determined to help find that. We don’t have everything they need for the next stage but we have become the default co-ordinator of other countries.”

A second source said: “The Ukrainians have been asking for lethal aid on the Black Sea. We have probably the most mature relationship with the Ukrainians of anyone. We have a live list of what they require and we try and meet it where we can. The PM is committed to helping Ukraine defend itself and he will support that need.”

Over the past fortnight four Russian warships are reported to have joined in a bombardment of Mariupol that has reduced 80 per cent of that city’s buildings to rubble. Its capture is a key objective for Russia as it would allow Mr Putin to establish a land bridge between Crimea and the breakaway separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in the east.

There are fears that Odesa, which has so far been spared Mariupol’s fate, could soon come under assault from the Russian navy in the Black Sea as the Kremlin seeks to refocus its forces on securing the east and southern coastal areas of Ukraine.

It is seen as a strategically vital port for Ukraine as half its imports and exports move through it. It is also the last major city standing between the Russian advance in the east from Kherson and the border with Romania in the west. Taking the city would bring Moscow one step closer to controlling the entire southern coastline.

While some allies, including America, Germany and France, are said to want to wait for a provocation by Russia before providing more deadly lethal aid, Mr Johnson has made clear that he believes it should be made available immediately.

“Boris says we don’t need another trigger,” the senior government source added. “Putin has already crossed the line … Whatever Zelensky asks for he will get, if we have it.”

President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for the West to supply Ukraine with anti-ship missiles, including Harpoons, which are used by the Royal Navy. US officials last week signalled that the issue was being discussed by NATO members.

It is understood that escalating the UK’s supply of lethal aid was discussed at a meeting of the ­National Security Council on Friday morning. The weaponry could include missiles with sensors that can target ships stationed off the Ukrainian coast, as well as anti-battery capabilities to destroy incoming artillery shells fired from Russian guns.

Before the invasion, the UK was preparing to provide Brimstone missiles to Ukraine to counter the Russian navy. The surface-to-surface maritime missiles, designed by MBDA UK, can hit “swarms” of targets simultaneously and would be deployed on vessels the Ukrainian navy has in service.

These are not thought to be on the table now, with a government source indicating the UK was more likely to facilitate the supply of anti-ship missiles from other Western partners. Where Britain does not have the requested weaponry, it is providing an “Amazon-style delivery” service to help to co-ordinate the efforts with other countries.

The Sunday Times