UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had what he described as “productive” discussions with US President Joe Biden in Washington, focusing on Ukraine. However, no decisions were made regarding Kyiv’s request to fire long-range missiles into Russia.
Starmer explained that the conversation centered on broader strategy rather than specific tactical decisions. The White House confirmed that both leaders expressed “deep concern” about Iran and North Korea supplying lethal weapons to Russia.
On Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed that Russia had launched over 70 Iranian-made drones across Ukraine, intensifying Kyiv’s need for more air defense and long-range weaponry. Zelensky continues to request Western allies for permission to use long-range missiles to defend against Russian attacks. While some Western countries, including the UK and US, have provided such missiles, they have not been authorized for use against targets within Russia.
Before the meeting, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a warning to Western nations against allowing Ukraine to fire long-range missiles into Russia, saying it would constitute NATO’s “direct participation” in the conflict. Despite this, former UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said NATO should not shy away from supporting Ukraine’s use of such missiles, stating that hesitation only benefits Putin.
Kurt Volker, former US special representative for Ukraine negotiations, added that Putin’s comments were designed to prevent further Western action, saying the US is overstating the risk of escalation if Ukraine is allowed to target Russian territory.
Addressing the media ahead of his meeting with Starmer, Biden said, “I don’t think much about Vladimir Putin.” The US and UK have refrained from permitting Ukraine to use long-range missiles against Russia due to concerns about potential escalation. Still, Zelensky insists it is necessary to end the war.
As the conflict continues, Kyiv faces daily bombardment from Russian missiles and bombs launched from deep inside Russian territory. Ukrainian officials argue that their inability to strike the bases from which these attacks originate hinders their ability to defend their country.
The UK has previously said that Ukraine has a clear right to use British-supplied weapons for self-defense, which could include actions inside Russia. However, this does not extend to long-range Storm Shadow missiles. Despite providing long-range missiles, the US and other Western nations have maintained restrictions on their use against targets deep within Russia.
In the wider context, Starmer and Biden also discussed the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict and other global issues. Starmer noted that they would continue these conversations at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly.
On the same day, Moscow expelled six British diplomats, accusing them of spying, a claim the UK Foreign Office dismissed as baseless. Russia’s security service, the FSB, alleged Britain was involved in efforts to cause a “strategic defeat” for Russia, further escalating tensions between the two nations.
In a separate development, the US imposed new sanctions on Russian media outlet RT, accusing it of being part of Russia’s intelligence apparatus. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that RT is part of a broader network aimed at undermining democracy, particularly in the US. RT’s editor-in-chief, Margarita Simonyan, who had been previously sanctioned, responded sarcastically, praising the US as “excellent teachers” for RT staff.
These sanctions and expulsions reflect the ongoing complexities and heightened tensions between Russia and Western nations as the war in Ukraine drags on.
