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The US and Britain are poised to allow Ukraine to use long-range missiles to strike targets in Russia, risking an all-out war between Russia and NATO.
The decision was reportedly made behind closed doors, according to The Guardian, and follows a flurry of diplomatic meetings this week between Foreign Secretary David Lammy and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, which included a visit to Ukraine. However, a final decision is not expected to be made until Keir Starmer meets with Joe Biden in Washington on Friday.
While some officials have suggested that Biden will allow European long-range missiles like Storm Shadow to be used on Russian targets, his administration is split on allowing the US-made Army Tactical Missile System to be used in a similar way.
Britain announced in May 2023 that it would supply the Anglo-French Storm Shadow missile to Ukraine. The missile has a range of up to 155 miles (250km). However, until now restrictions have been put on how they are used, allowing Ukraine to only strike targets within the country. Made by the European arms consortium, MBDA, the missile’s development has involved British, French, Italian and US suppliers – requiring all four government to agree to any change of their use.
Russia has already responded to the news. Speaking on Russian state television, Vladimir Putin said any change in restrictions would put NATO “at war” with Russia and “would in a significant way change the very nature of the conflict.”
CND General Secretary Kate Hudson said:
“This Labour government has firmly planted its feet in the pro-war camp and is happy to expand this dreadful conflict rather than bringing it to a conclusion. The testing of red lines can only go so far and we are now coming to the point of direct war between NATO and Russia – with nuclear weapons very much on the agenda.”
Image credit: Wikimedia Commons
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