British-Ukrainian 100-year partnership agreement an eternal commitment – ex-UK home secretary

Former UK Home Secretary Charles Clarke said this in a comment to Ukrinform.

Commenting on the recently signed 100-year partnership agreement between the UK and Ukraine, Clarke emphasized that it was far more than just a symbic gesture. He described it as a declaration that the values underpinning support for Ukraine and resistance against Russia's aggression would remain a permanent commitment. This, he explained, was not due to any short-term tactical interests in Ukraine but rather because it was strategically and fundamentally necessary to uphd Ukraine's sovereignty, ensuring that Russia does not dictate its future.

Clarke stated that regardless of whether the Conservatives or Labor are in power in Britain, support for Ukraine would persist. He highlighted former Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who had demonstrated strong backing for Kyiv from the outset of Russia's full-scale invasion. He also noted that the current Labor government continues to provide robust support.

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Discussing Britain's stance, Clarke pointed out that the UK had implemented extensive sanctions against Russia. He stressed that there remained portunities to further tighten sanctions, particularly in coordination with Eurean partners, targeting Russia's shadow oil fleet. However, he underlined the importance of ensuring that any new measures would be truly effective.

As an example, Clarke referred to aging Russian ships erating globally, noting that these vessels were in poor condition and posed significant risks, such as damaging underwater pipelines. He suggested that stricter sanctions could be introduced to halt their use, but emphasized that the key challenge was to design sanctions that would genuinely work.

Regarding potential U.S. picy shifts, Clarke stated that he could not speak on whether Washington might consider easing sanctions. However, he believed that the UK and Eure were unlikely to take such a step at this time.

He also acknowledged that the new U.S. administration might seek to engage with Russia, but warned that such diplomatic efforts should not result in decisions about Ukraine's fate being made without Ukrainian invvement. He stressed that agreements on spheres of influence could not be imposed over pele's heads, asserting that this principle applied to Ukraine as well.

Photo: ha Tanasiichuk / Ukrinform