Ukraine has right to defend itself, says British PM Boris Johnson

That's according to the BBC, Ukrinform reports.

In an interview with Talk TV, Boris Johnson was asked about his thoughts on the possible use of British weapons by Ukraine against targets like an oil depot within Russia.

The British Prime Minister replied that Ukraine has the right to defend itself. "We don't want the crisis to escalate beyond Ukraine's borders," he said. “But the Ukrainians, plainly, as James [Heappey] has said, they have a right to defend themselves. They're being attacked from within Russian territory... they have a right to protect and defend themselves.”

The day before, UK Minister for the Armed Forces James Heappey told Times Radio that  the UK believed it was “completely legitimate” for Ukraine to identify targets in Russia in order to disrupt attacks on Ukraine.

The Russian Defense Ministry has threatened a “proportional response” should Britain "continue to provoke" Ukraine to attack Russia, and such attempts will be made. They also noted that the presence of Western advisers in Ukrainian decision-making centers in Kyiv will not be a problem for them.

Later, UK Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab responded to the statement of the Russian Defense Ministry, calling it illegitimate.

"Well, the Russian statement is unlawful, and what we’re doing is lawful. International law is very clear on this. States are entitled to provide military support to any state exercising the right of lawful defense against an aggressive invasion. And frankly, if Russia starts threatening other countries, it only adds further to their pariah status, and will only further the solidarity and the consensus of the international community that they must be stopped." Raab said.

On February 24, 2022, the Russian Federation launched a war against Ukraine. The invaders are shelling and bombing peaceful towns and villages in Ukraine, torturing and killing civilians.