Keir Starmer will meet Joe Biden today after Vladimir Putin warned the West will be ‘at war’ with Moscow if they widen Ukraine’s use of Storm Shadow missiles.
The PM is due to meet the US President at the White House amid mounting expectations that the long-range weapons will be authorised to strike targets in Russia.
Although a final decision is not expected to be announced after the discussions this evening it could be confirmed as early as next week.
Putin upped the ante last night, telling state media that Russia would ‘take appropriate decisions based on the threats we will face.’
But speaking to reporters en route to Washington DC, Sir Keir insisted the Russian leader started the war in Ukraine and could end the fighting ‘straight away’.
‘There are really important developments likely in the next few weeks and months, both in Ukraine and the Middle East, and therefore a number of tactical decisions ought to be taken,’ Sir Keir said.
He added: ‘Russia started this conflict. Russia illegally invaded Ukraine. Russia can end this conflict straight away.
‘Ukraine has the right to self-defence, and obviously we’ve been absolutely fully supportive of Ukraine’s right to self-defence, providing training capabilities.
‘But we don’t seek any conflict with Russia, that’s not our intention in the slightest. But they started this conflict, and Ukraine’s got a right to self-defence.’
Sir Keir Starmer speaks to reporters on his way to Washington DC to meet with President Joe Biden
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks at Konstantin Palace on September 12. He warned the West it will be ‘at war’ with Russia if it allows Ukraine to fire British missiles into his country
Western powers have, despite months of pleading from Kyiv, refused to let Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky use their weapons to hit targets inside Russia, for fear of retaliation.
Currently Ukraine’s forces can use Storm Shadow missiles – which have a range of more than 150 miles – only inside their country’s borders.
But now it is thought Western leaders will, within weeks, announce they have relented, after concluding Russia was already escalating the conflict further by acquiring ballistic missiles from Iran.
If Ukraine was given the green light to aim Storm Shadows into Russian territory, it would allow its forces to hit the air bases from where attacks on its troops and civilians are being launched.
Asked about the move last night, the Prime Minister said he could not ‘go into discussions about particular capabilities’.
Sir Keir and the US President are to have a two-hour summit in the White House today amid growing signs of a major shift in their stance on the war.
Putin last night warned the West it will be ‘at war’ with Russia if it allows Ukraine to fire British missiles into his country.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy (left) and Prime Minister Keir Starmer depart from Stansted Airport in Essex on September 12
The pair board the plane to fly to Washington DC and meet with the American President
President Joe Biden is set to meet with the British Prime Minister to discuss Kyiv’s use of long-range Storm Shadow weapons
Western powers have, despite months of pleading from Kyiv, refused to let Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (pictured) use their weapons to hit targets inside Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (centre) meets with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (left) and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy (right) on September 12
Putin warned the widely expected decision to let Ukrainian forces fire the Anglo-French cruise missiles deep into his territory would change the ‘very nature of the conflict’.
‘It would mean Nato countries, the US, European countries, are at war with Russia,’ he told a state broadcaster yesterday. ‘If that’s the case, then taking into account the change of nature of the conflict, we will take the appropriate decisions based on the threats we will face.’
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken further hinted at the new approach after visiting Ukraine, whose President Zelensky wants to present a ‘victory plan’ to President Biden later this month.
Asked yesterday if the green light had been given for Kyiv to hit targets in Russia with Western weaponry, he replied: ‘A hallmark of what we’ve done from day one – in fact, even before day one – of the Russian aggression against Ukraine in 2022 was to try to make sure Ukraine has what it needs when it needs it to deal with that aggression.
‘And as what Russia is doing has changed, as the battlefield has changed, we’ve adapted.
‘I can tell you . . .we’ll adapt as necessary, including with regard to the means that are at Ukraine’s disposal to effectively defend against the Russian aggression.’
Destroyed Russian tanks lie on the roadside near Sudzha, Kursk region in Russia on August 16, 2024
A public announcement on the change of approach by the West is not expected today, with more talks planned among European leaders in the coming weeks.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who will also be in the White House for today’s talks, suggested on Wednesday the final decision will be taken at a summit in New York in a fortnight.
The UK-provided Storm Shadows, costing £2million apiece, could enable President Zelensky’s forces to destroy airfields deep inside Russia and even hit a key naval base.
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