Putin says Russia 'will respond' if UK supplies depleted uranium shells to Ukraine

Vladimir Putin has sought to exploit a British statement that it would supply Ukraine with tank shells made with depleted uranium, arguing that the delivery of the armour-piercing weapons would prompt a Russian response. The Russian leader's comments, made during the visit to Moscow by his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, came in response to a parliamentary answer given by a junior British defence minister in the House of Lords on Monday. Annabel Goldie said that the UK will supply "armour piercing rounds which contain depleted uranium" to Ukraine with its gift of 14 Challenger 2 tanks because they are deemed…