World leaders last night snubbed Sir Keir Starmers call to issue a show of support for Ukraine, while Vladimir Putin stepped up his aggressive nuclear rhetoric.
As the conflict entered its 1,000th day, the Prime Minister had urged leaders gathering at the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro to double down on their backing for Ukraine.
But after Russia lobbied major nations – including China, India and Brazil – in the end the gathering of the worlds largest economies issued a watered-down statement that failed to condemn Moscow at all.
Downing Street yesterday described the outcome as disappointing but not unexpected.
Sir Keir admitted it was always going to be difficult to persuade quite a diverse group of countries to issue a strong condemnation of Russia, which is also a member of the G20.
It came as Moscow issued increasingly alarming threats that the war in Ukraine could develop into a nuclear conflict with the West.
The Kremlin yesterday revealed it had approved changes to its nuclear doctrine, setting out new scenarios in which it would consider justified in using its deadly arsenal.
It now warns that an attack from a non-nuclear state, if backed by a nuclear power such as Britain, France or the United States, will be treated as a joint attack on Russia.
One of the Prime Ministers main aims at this weeks G20 summit has been to unify support amongst the globes major nations behind Ukraine
The G20 summit in Brazil this week was Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmers 15th foreign trip since July
Sir Keir described it as irresponsible rhetoric, adding: That is not going to deter our support for Ukraine.
Russia also revealed yesterday that, for the first time, Ukraine had fired US long-range missiles at targets inside its territory. The attack on the Bryansk region, later confirmed by US officials, came after President Joe Biden lifted the ban on such attacks earlier this week.
The US made the controversial decision after North Korea sent thousands of troops to fight alongside Putins force – a move which is seen by Britain and the US as an escalation of the conflict by the Russian president, who is said to be desperate to secure extra territory in Ukraine before Donald Trump returns to the White House in January.
Britain is also considering allowing Ukraine to fire its Storm Shadow missiles at targets in Russia, if the PM can persuade President Biden to lift a veto. Sir Keir yesterday said Ukraine must have what it needs for as long as it needs – Putin must not win this war.
Russias foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, who is attending the G20 summit in place of Putin, yesterday said the missile strikes were a signal that they [the US] want escalation.
Mr Lavrov, described as a thug by one senior British official, told a press conference: We will be taking this as a renewed face of the Western war against Russia, and we will react accordingly.
The outcome of the summit represents a significant diplomatic setback for Sir Keir. He had declared his number one agenda item was to shore up support for Ukraine following the election of Mr Trump, who has fuelled concerns he will force Kyiv to sue for peace by claiming he can end the war in a day.
Sir Keir, who had a one-on-one meeting with Canadian PM Justin Trudeau where they discussed their backing for Ukraine, said the world needed to double down on supporting its fightback against Putins aggression. He had lobbied the G20 for a statement that would declare the leaders strong and unwavering support for Ukraine and to identify Russia as the sole obstacle to peace.
Sir Keir shakes hands with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the European Political Community summit at Puskas Arena in November in Budapest, Hungary
Vladimir Putin yesteday signed off on an updated version of the Kremlins nuclear doctrine that broadens the scope for Moscow to turn to its fearsome atomic arsenal
But both phrases were stripped out of the final communique, which failed to even condemn Russia and instead made a neutral call for a just and durable peace.
A No 10 spokesman said: It is not unexpected, given the G20 brings together a range of countries with differing views. Not least it includes representatives of the Russian government.
Its disappointing but not unexpected, and we would compare it to the G7 statement at the weekend which reiterated our strong and unwavering support for Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was not invited to the summit, last night accused the world leaders of sitting on their hands as
Russia threatens nuclear war, saying: Did they say something? Nothing.