UK Sends Missiles to Ukraine, Welcomes Refugees

Ukrainian soldiers training with NLAW military materiel during a drill in western Ukraine (EPA)
Ukrainian soldiers training with NLAW military materiel during a drill in western Ukraine (EPA)
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UK Sends Missiles to Ukraine, Welcomes Refugees

Ukrainian soldiers training with NLAW military materiel during a drill in western Ukraine (EPA)
Ukrainian soldiers training with NLAW military materiel during a drill in western Ukraine (EPA)

A British official said he was satisfied with the weapons his country was sending to help the Ukrainian army against the Russian offensive.

The official did not elaborate, but it was evident that he was pleased with the weapons seeing a video footage from Ukraine showing the British missile launchers destroying large numbers of Russian tanks and armored vehicles.

Britain, along with the US, was one of the first countries to provide Ukraine with advanced "lethal" weapons described as "defensive" - weeks before the Russian military operation on February 24.

The first batch of British aid, on January 17, included at least 2,000 Next Generation Light Antitank Weapons (NLAW), in addition to weapons, ammunition, armor, helmets, military boots, food, and communications and positioning equipment.

On March 9, the Minister of Defense, Ben Wallace, revealed that his country intends to supply military aid to the Ukrainian armed forces.

"In response to further acts of aggression by Russia, we have now increased that supply. I can update the House that, as of today, we have delivered 3,615 NLAWs and continue to deliver more," Wallace told the House of Commons.

He indicated that the government would shortly start the delivery of a small consignment of anti-tank Javelin missiles.

"I want to assure the House that everything we do is bound by the decision to supply defensive systems and is calibrated not to escalate to a strategic level."

The government has decided to explore the donation of Starstreak high-velocity, man-portable anti-air missiles.

"We believe that this system will remain within the definition of defensive weapons but will allow the Ukrainian forces to better defend their skies," said the minister.

On Monday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson's spokesman said that the Russian missile strikes on a Ukrainian base near the Polish border are deeply concerning but will not deter Britain from continuing to provide Ukraine with defensive weapons.

The announcement came after Russian missile strikes targeted a major Ukrainian base near the border with Poland that British soldiers used last year to train Ukrainian soldiers to use anti-tank missiles.

A spokesman for the British Foreign Office told Asharq Al-Awsat that the United Kingdom was the leading European country supporting Ukraine's sovereignty.

He recalled that since 2015, British forces had trained more than 22,000 members of the Ukrainian armed forces, and the government approved a £1.7 billion loan to develop Ukraine's maritime capabilities.

He noted that the European Union and many other countries have begun sending defensive weapons to Ukraine.

The spokesman clarified that the UK remains a solid supporter of Ukraine's request for NATO membership per the NATO Bucharest Summit Declaration in 2008.

At the Bucharest Summit, NATO Allies welcomed Ukraine's and Georgia's Euro-Atlantic aspirations for membership and agreed that these countries would become members of NATO.

The spokesman noted that Ukraine has the right to choose its alliances, its future, and Russia, according to its repeated agreements, has no right to dictate that choice on the Ukrainians.

The British support for Ukraine also extends to other non-military areas.

The British government launched the most comprehensive campaign against the wealthy Russians accused of having ties to President Vladimir Putin.

The government froze their assets, estimated at billions of dollars. It also imposed sanctions on a wide range of Russian companies and senior officials, including 386 members of the State Duma who voted to recognize the independence of Lugansk and Donetsk.

Britain also provided financial support to the Ukrainian government to help it deal with the repercussions of the Russian attack.

It launched a campaign to encourage its citizens to host Ukrainian families fleeing their country.

The new scheme called "Homes for Ukraine" will let refugees from the war come to Britain even if they do not have family ties, the government said on Sunday.

Britain will pay people 350 pounds ($456) a month if they can offer refugees a spare room or property for a minimum period of six months.

The government will also support municipalities to provide free education, health care, and assistance to those entitled to residing and working in Britain for three years before applying to settle their situation and stay in this country.

The government says there is no limit for the Ukrainian refugees, but tens of thousands of Ukrainian refugees could come to the UK.

However, Ukraine's neighboring countries currently host at least 2.7 million displaced persons amid expectations that more of them will arrive as the Russian offensive heats up.



Erdogan Takes Russia, Ukraine to Task Over Black Sea Attacks

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shake hands during a press conference in Istanbul, Türkiye, October 31, 2026. (Reuters)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shake hands during a press conference in Istanbul, Türkiye, October 31, 2026. (Reuters)
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Erdogan Takes Russia, Ukraine to Task Over Black Sea Attacks

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shake hands during a press conference in Istanbul, Türkiye, October 31, 2026. (Reuters)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shake hands during a press conference in Istanbul, Türkiye, October 31, 2026. (Reuters)

Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday attacks aimed at civilian vessels in the Black Sea were unacceptable, urging Russia and Ukraine to "act responsibly".

Despite its ties with both Russia and Ukraine, Türkiye has been infuriated by the attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea.

"It is clear that attacks against civilian vessels and actions that further escalate tensions in the Black Sea serve no one's interests," Erdogan told a news conference with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky in Istanbul.

"We cannot accept these attacks under any circumstances, regardless of who carries them out or what justification is offered. We call on all parties to act responsibly on this matter," he said.

Ankara has sent a proposal to Russia and Ukraine to end strikes on civilian ships, but says the two foes have failed to act on it.

"We will continue our talks with the parties concerned with a view to restoring the safety of navigation in the Black Sea," the Turkish leader said.

"I believe that reaching an agreement on this issue would also give fresh impetus to efforts to secure lasting peace in Ukraine."

Türkiye has also hosted several rounds of talks between Russia and Ukraine aiming for a lasting ceasefire and peace deal.

In a phone call with US President Donald Trump on Wednesday, Erdogan said Türkiye was ready to support efforts to revive the diplomatic process between Ukraine and Russia and bring the war to an end through negotiations, according to the Turkish leader's office.


Rubio Says US Yet to Decide on New Iran Strikes

Iranian people walk past a mural depicting late Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei, in a street of Tehran, Iran, 31 October 2026. (EPA)
Iranian people walk past a mural depicting late Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei, in a street of Tehran, Iran, 31 October 2026. (EPA)
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Rubio Says US Yet to Decide on New Iran Strikes

Iranian people walk past a mural depicting late Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei, in a street of Tehran, Iran, 31 October 2026. (EPA)
Iranian people walk past a mural depicting late Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei, in a street of Tehran, Iran, 31 October 2026. (EPA)

US President Donald Trump has not made a decision about fresh strikes on Iran amid stalled peace talks, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Saturday.

"We can achieve military objectives if we seek to," Rubio told a press conference in Atlanta, Georgia, where he was hosting G20 foreign ministers for a two-day meeting.

But Rubio added that Trump "hasn't made a decision" on further military action, amid reports that the US leader could attack after key midterm elections on Tuesday.

"I have no announcement in that regard with you today, and nor do we take any of it lightly," Rubio said.

While he slammed Tehran for "actively and openly" targeting commercial vessels for attack, Rubio also expressed Trump's preference for a diplomatic solution to end war with Iran.

But he did not commit to a timeline for talks.

"I'm not going to characterize neither the progress on those talks nor any timeframe on it, other than to tell you that if there is a diplomatic solution, we would be open to it," Rubio said.

Iran's supreme leader on Saturday warned the United States and Israel against launching new attacks, following threats to resume strikes after crucial elections.

Trump earlier warned of the potential for fresh military action after US midterms, saying previously that he was weighing up whether to "finish them off."

But any further attack would spark concern among US allies.

On Thursday, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told AFP: "We are calling for a diplomatic solution, and really, escalation does not benefit anyone."


Iranian Envoys Meet Qatari Mediators as Threat Looms of US Strikes After Midterms

A man holds Iran's national flag in a street of Tehran, Iran, 31 October 2026. (EPA)
A man holds Iran's national flag in a street of Tehran, Iran, 31 October 2026. (EPA)
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Iranian Envoys Meet Qatari Mediators as Threat Looms of US Strikes After Midterms

A man holds Iran's national flag in a street of Tehran, Iran, 31 October 2026. (EPA)
A man holds Iran's national flag in a street of Tehran, Iran, 31 October 2026. (EPA)

Iranian negotiators held talks in Doha with Qatari mediators on Saturday to discuss paths out of war in the region, a source told Reuters, as diplomats try to avert a new outbreak of fighting after the US midterm elections this week.

Saturday's talks in the Qatari capital followed more than 12 hours of discussions on Friday between Iranian and Qatari envoys in Tehran, said the source, who was briefed on the negotiations and spoke on condition of anonymity. The source said the talks were being coordinated in regular contacts with Washington.

Countries in the region have been anticipating that US President Donald Trump, who has held off on strikes on Iran during the weeks leading ‌up to Tuesday's ‌midterm elections, could restart attacks once the voting is over. Iran has repeatedly ‌said ⁠it would respond ⁠to new attacks by striking at US and Israeli targets in neighboring countries.

Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei issued a statement on Saturday ordering the armed forces to be prepared to respond to any attacks. The Iranian military later announced it was taking steps to improve its readiness.

"Any level or type of threat must be met with an immediate, impactful, and geographically unrestricted response," Khamenei, who has not appeared in public since replacing his father slain at the war's outset, said on Saturday in the statement posted on his official Telegram account.

He said ⁠that senior commanders had reported high readiness along the Gulf coast, in ‌and around the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman, and ‌on Iran's northwestern and southeastern borders.

DIPLOMACY CONTINUES DESPITE GAPS

Trump, who launched the war alongside Israel in February, has repeatedly hinted ‌at plans to restart strikes on Iran. Last week he called on Israelis ahead of their ‌own election to keep his wartime ally Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in power so the two leaders can "finish the job".

But Washington has also lately taken steps to indicate it is open to diplomacy. Earlier this week, Vice President JD Vance, who led the US delegation at previous rounds of talks with Iran, wrote a letter to a hardline senior ‌Iranian security official, which the New York Times and Wall Street Journal described as an initiative to see if it was possible to restart talks.

Trump ⁠played the letter down, ⁠saying he approved it only to discuss the possibility of letting more medical supplies into Iran: "I said if you want to do that, that's ok. Basically, it's getting supplies in to help people that are not well."

In the latest Qatari-mediated discussions, the Qataris brought a proposal to Tehran a week ago for a seven-day plan, under which the US and Iran would take daily steps to build trust ahead of broader peace talks, the source briefed on the negotiations said. A senior Iranian official told Reuters on Friday that this proposal was not deemed satisfactory by Tehran.

Iran has been proposing its own seven-day plan since September, so far rejected by Trump. That calls for Washington to lift a blockade of Iranian ports, unfreeze assets and approve an Iranian-backed route through the Strait of Hormuz, after which the contested strait would be reopened.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in remarks reported by Al Jazeera on Saturday that Iran was studying Vance's letter. He said the Iranian plan was the only proposal on the table to reopen the strait.