May calls on European leaders to stop Russian atrocities in Syria

(theguardian)- Theresa May has called on her fellow European leaders to put pressure on Russia to stop its “appalling, sickening” atrocities in Syria.

Arriving at her first European summit, the prime minister said Europe needed to take a “robust and united stance” in the face of Russian aggression.

In an attempt to throw down an olive branch to EU leaders alarmed by talk of a hard Brexit, she promised the UK would be a “strong and dependable partner” once it had left the European Union.

“The UK is leaving the EU but we will continue to play a full role until we leave and we’ll be a strong and dependable partner after we’ve left. It is in the interests of both the UK and the EU that we continue to work closely together including at this summit,” she said.

May will join her counterparts to discuss the EU’s response to Russia, a debate that was called before the escalation in international concern over the fierce bombardment of Aleppo.

She will also warn her 27 fellow European Union leaders, over a working dinner in Brussels, that Britain’s decision to leave is irreversible and there can be no second referendum.

Thursday’s meeting of the European council will be the prime minister’s first opportunity to address the leaders of all the other member states since the UK voted to leave the European Union in June.

Donald Tusk, the European council president, has insisted Britain’s future relationship with the EU will not be on the formal agenda for the two-day meeting, but he will give May the opportunity to set out the “current state of affairs in the country” over coffee at the end of the meal.

A No 10 source said she would tell her fellow EU leaders: “The British people have made a decision and it’s right and proper that that decision is honoured. There will be no second referendum. The priority now has got to be looking to the future, and the relationship between the UK, once we leave.”

The source added that the prime minister would also seek to reassure the other member states, amid growing fears that Brexit could unleash political and economic instability in Britain and the rest of Europe.

“She wants the outcome at the end of this process to be a strong UK, as a partner of a strong EU,” the source said. “She doesn’t want the process of the UK leaving to be damaging for the rest of the EU. She wants it to be a smooth, constructive, orderly process.”

With speculation rife about how Britain plans to conduct the negotiations, Tusk wants to avoid a discussion and will not invite other EU leaders to respond. May’s remarks are down as an “any other business point”, underscoring that Britain is far down the priority list for the summit despite public interest in the issue.