‘Russia will re-broadcast his words’: Jeremy Corbyn is branded a ‘disgrace’ after he condemns the UK for ‘pouring arms into Ukraine’ and calls for peace with Russia

• Jeremy Corbyn said military aid for Ukraine would ‘prolong’ conflict with Russia
• He made the comments on Hezbollah-sympathising TV channel Al Mayadeen
• Tory MP with Ukrainian heritage Alexander Stafford branded him a ‘disgrace’
• A Labour source said it is hard to see a ‘path back’ for the former Labour leader

Jeremy Corbyn was branded a ‘disgrace’ last night after attacking Britain for ‘pouring arms into Ukraine’ instead of seeking peaceful negotiations with Vladimir Putin.

The former Labour leader said providing military aid would only ‘prolong and exaggerate’ the conflict.

He made the remarks during an interview with Al Mayadeen, a Lebanon-based TV channel accused of having sympathies with terrorist organisation Hezbollah and Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad.

Mr Corbyn currently sits as an independent MP after having the Labour whip removed in 2020, and last night party sources suggested his comments would only make his readmission less likely.

Jeremy Corbyn was branded a ‘disgrace’ last night after attacking Britain for ‘pouring arms into Ukraine’ instead of seeking peaceful negotiations with Vladimir Putin

The former Labour leader said providing military aid would only ‘prolong and exaggerate’ the conflict. Pictured: Ukrainian troops with a US howitzer

The former Labour leader (left) made the remarks during an interview with Al Mayadeen, a Lebanon-based TV channel accused of having sympathies with terrorist organisation Hezbollah and Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad

The Royal Navy will provide Ukraine with minesweepers to clear Russian munitions from the Black Sea.

Two highly specialised British ships will be transferred to the Ukrainian navy this autumn, months ahead of schedule.

The mine countermeasure vehicle, pictured left, is a small but effective 160ft-long vessel with a reinforced plastic hull.

The ships, which clear mines from sea routes to allow the safe passage of larger forces, will be sent to speed up the export of blockaded Ukrainian food supplies.

Refusing to condemn Putin or his illegal invasion, Mr Corbyn said: ‘Pouring arms in isn’t going to bring about a solution, it’s only going to prolong and exaggerate this war.’

He noted the recent grain agreement between Russia and Ukraine, but added that ‘putting more and more arms into Ukraine’ would not help such deals hold.

Alexander Stafford, a Tory MP with Ukrainian heritage, said: ‘These comments are an absolute disgrace and smack of the worst type of appeasement.

‘History is clear that the only way to stop despots attacking innocents is to show strength.’

Former Labour MP Mike Gapes said: ‘So many Labour MPs and members were prepared to support this threat to our national security. And he is still a member of Labour. Why?’ And Tobias Ellwood, chairman of the Commons defence committee, warned: ‘Russia will re-broadcast his words in an attempt to show UK support for Ukraine is slipping.’

The Tory Government has provided more than £2.3billion in military aid to Kyiv since the Russian invasion.

Labour supports the provision, claiming the ‘stand against Russian aggression is very important’. A party source said: ‘There cannot be any ambiguity about the choice [Mr Corbyn] is making, and that is to put himself outside the Labour mainstream.

‘It is difficult to see a path back for him if this is the position he continues to articulate.’

A spokesman for Mr Corbyn said ‘he has always condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine…[and] he has a long record as a staunch critic of Vladimir Putin’.

Refusing to condemn Putin or his illegal invasion, Mr Corbyn said: ‘Pouring arms in isn’t going to bring about a solution, it’s only going to prolong and exaggerate this war’

A Ukrainian boy rides his scooter past a blown-out building in the Sumy region, that was destroyed by Russian forces in the early days of the war

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