Russia will be 'forced to react' if UK sends depleted uranium ammunition to Ukraine, Putin vows

Vladimir Putin has said he would be forced to react if the UK sent depleted uranium ammunition to Ukraine. Speaking after holding talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Moscow today, the Russian president said Beijing's peace plan could be the basis for settling the war in Ukraine - but said the West has so far shown no interest.

Mr Putin said that if Britain provided Ukraine with ammunition for battle tanks containing depleted uranium, Russia will respond, but he did not elaborate on how. He said: “It looks like the West indeed intends to fight Russia until the last Ukrainian,” pointing out the reported plan. “If that happens, Russia will respond accordingly, given that the collective West is starting to use weapons with a nuclear component.”

It comes after defence minister Baroness Anabelle Goldie said the UK would be sending "ammunition including armour piercing rounds which contain depleted uranium" to Ukraine, along with a squadron of Challenger 2 tanks, in a written answer to a question asked in Parliament. According to the BBC, depleted uranium is about 40 per cent less radioactive than natural uranium, and is capable of penetrating shells and piercing tanks. The effects it may have on health and the environment have long been debated.

READ MORE: Counter-terrorism police involved in investigation after man was set alight as he walked home from mosque in Birmingham

Mr Putin was speaking after Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida made a surprise visit to Kyiv on the same day Mr Xi was in Moscow to show his support for Russia. Mr Kishida, who will chair the G7 summit in May, is meeting Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in the Ukrainian capital, while Mr Xi is in talks with Mr Putin for the second day of