President Joe Biden is ‘not ruling out’ allowing Ukraine to fire foreign-made missiles deep into Russia, the US said last night.
And British sources said the US could permit the use of long-range cruise missiles ‘within weeks’, according to The Times.
The American move came as David Lammy and the US secretary of state Antony Blinken met in London amid pressure to let Kyiv use Western weapons.
Asked about the West’s stance on missiles, Mr Blinken said: ‘We never rule out. But when we rule in, we want to make sure it’s done in such a way that it can advance what the Ukrainians are trying to achieve.’
Mr Lammy will make a rare joint trip to Ukraine with his US counterpart this week. The Foreign Secretary will travel to the war-torn country on a ‘hugely important’ visit to hear what is needed on the ground.
President Joe Biden (pictured) is ‘not ruling out’ allowing Ukraine to fire foreign-made missiles deep into Russia, the US said last night
This photo shows a damaged residential building following a Ukrainian drone attack in Ramenskoye in the Moscow region on September 10, 2024
Asked about the West’s stance on missiles, Antony Blinken (pictured right) said: ‘We never rule out. But when we rule in, we want to make sure it’s done in such a way that it can advance what the Ukrainians are trying to achieve.’
At least one civilian was killed after a Ukrainian drone attack hits Moscow
Talks between the two men at the Foreign Office followed one of the largest Ukrainian drone attacks on mainland Russia in the conflict so far.
Kremlin officials claimed they intercepted 144 Ukrainian drones directed towards Moscow and other major cities.
One woman was apparently killed and three people injured as residential buildings caught fire. A further 43 people were evacuated.
On the joint trip to Ukraine, Mr Lammy and Mr Blinken will listen to President Volodymyr Zelensky’s call for permission to use Western long-range weapons – such as Storm Shadow missiles – to strike at targets within Russia.
Mr Lammy yesterday refused to be drawn on the subject, saying it would be ‘quite wrong to comment on the detail of operational issues’.
At a press conference alongside Mr Blinken he said that commenting could benefit Vladimir Putin.
Mr Blinken said one of the ‘purposes’ of the trip to Kyiv would be to hear from Mr Zelensky ‘about . . . what we can do to support [the country’s] needs’.
Following the drone attack in Russia yesterday, flights to and from Moscow airports were suspended.
While no strategically valuable targets were hit, the Ukrainian air assault offered further proof of the country’s ability to strike far inside Russia.
Ukraine has been explicit about its motivation to bring the war to the Russian people.
Iran sanctioned by YUK and US over supplying ballistic missiles to Russia
by Harriet Line and Natalie Lisbona in Tel Aviv
Iran was sanctioned by the UK and US yesterday after the two countries formally accused Tehran of supplying ballistic missiles to Russia.
The UK Government announced it would cancel its air services arrangement with Iran, which will restrict Iran Air’s ability to fly to the UK and Europe.
And it is sanctioning a number of people and organisations for their role in facilitating Iran’s military support to Russia.
At a joint press conference in London, Foreign Secretary David Lammy and his US counterpart, secretary of state Antony Blinken, said Iran had ignored warnings that the transfer of such weapons would be a profound escalation of the conflict.
Mr Lammy warned last night that Iran supplying Russia with ballistic missiles was ‘a significant and dangerous escalation’.
At a joint press conference in London, Foreign Secretary David Lammy and his US counterpart, secretary of state Antony Blinken, said Iran had ignored warnings that the transfer of such weapons would be a profound escalation of the conflict
Yoav Gallant (pictured) spoke as his country braces for a retaliatory strike following the assassination of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran
‘We have been clear in that any transfer of ballistic missiles by Iran would face a significant response,’ he said.
Iran, as it has with previous US intelligence findings, has denied providing Russia with weapons for its war in Ukraine.
It came as the Israeli defence secretary warned Iran is ‘close’ to acquiring nuclear weapons after the hardline regime’s programme has gone unchecked for years.
Yoav Gallant spoke as his country braces for a retaliatory strike following the assassination of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
He also slapped down Britain’s partial arms embargo – which came days after six Israeli hostages were executed – as not ‘positive’.
Iran said only a ceasefire deal would delay its counter-strike following the hit on Haniyeh in July.
But fears are growing as Hamas and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu have yet to reach a compromise.
Mr Gallant issued a firm rebuke on Monday, warning Tehran: ‘We have the ability to hit any strategic goal in Iran.’
But he warned their capabilities may soon go nuclear, with even more terrifying potential than the hundreds of missiles, rockets and drones they launched at Israel in April.
‘Iran is behind the chaos,’ he said. ‘Iran is creating a war of attrition against Israel in order to gain the time and space to acquire nuclear capabilities – and they are close.’
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