Ukraine is facing its most challenging winter since the onset of the conflict with Russia, former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown warned, urging greater international support for Kyiv. Speaking at the Edinburgh International Book Festival on August 28, Brown called on the United States and other allied countries to push former US President Donald Trump to authorize the production of Patriot interceptor missiles in Ukraine, which he said could significantly bolster the country’s defenses against Russian missile attacks.

The conflict, which began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, has reached what Brown described as a "critical moment." He highlighted Russia’s intensified targeting of civilian infrastructure, particularly electricity and power systems, through missile and bomb attacks that Ukraine’s current defense systems struggle to intercept. Brown attributed this vulnerability partly to delays in Western support, noting that Trump had previously promised to provide Ukraine with the design technology for interceptor missiles but had not fulfilled that commitment.

Trump reportedly expressed reservations last month, characterizing the transfer of such advanced missile technology as a "hard thing to give away." Brown, however, emphasized the urgency of providing Ukraine with these interceptors, stating that only the United States has the capability to supply the necessary technology to improve Ukraine’s air defenses.

While advocating for increased military assistance, Brown cautioned against escalating the conflict into a broader war involving NATO or European countries. He underscored that neither the United Kingdom nor other European nations have declared war on Russia, and stressed the importance of avoiding a situation where hostilities extend beyond Ukraine. “Russia has declared war on Ukraine and we mustn’t walk into a situation where we genuinely find ourselves with a declaration of war on both sides,” Brown said, warning of the grave dangers such an escalation would entail.

In addition to calling for enhanced US support, Brown praised UK political figures such as Andy Burnham for contributing aid to Ukraine. The British government recently announced it would share blueprints with Kyiv to enable domestic production of the UK’s long-range Scalp cruise missile system. However, Brown tempered expectations regarding the immediate impact of these efforts, suggesting that such measures might not substantially influence the conflict’s trajectory in the short term.

Brown’s remarks come as concerns grow over the humanitarian and military challenges facing Ukraine during the upcoming winter months, a period expected to test the country’s resilience amid ongoing Russian attacks on critical infrastructure.