- No decision on UK missiles for Ukraine
- Starmer, Biden discuss defense, Ukraine aid
- Putin’s nuclear threats labeled “unacceptable”
Sir Keir Starmer and Joe Biden met last week to discuss defense, but no decision was reached on whether Ukraine can launch British long-range missiles into Russia.
The foreign secretary has stated that the UK and its allies would not be “bullied by Putin’s shameless grandstanding” as the prime minister faces pressure to enable Ukraine to launch British long-range missiles into Russia.
David Lammy called the Russian president’s threats to deploy nuclear weapons “totally unacceptable” if the West sent more arms to Kyiv.
The government is under increasing pressure from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to enable troops to launch Storm Shadow long-range missiles into Russia. Still, no decision was reached following discussions between Sir Keir Starmer and US President Joe Biden in Washington this week.
Two US officials involved with the negotiations said they believed Sir Keir was seeking US approval, which is required because Storm Shadow components are manufactured in the US, but no decision was reached.
Mr Lammy couldn’t explain why a decision was not made, but he did say, “There is a debate about additional missiles.”
“And we’re debating it as allies, as you’d expect.
I won’t get into the operational details of that…because I’m not going to help Putin as we approach winter.
He added: Putin’s threats to deploy nuclear weapons every few months are completely intolerable.
We will not be intimidated by Putin’s cynical grandstanding.
He should now cease his attacks and leave Ukraine.
He stated that Sir Keir has given £3 billion in aid to Ukraine, has provided more missiles when requested, and will continue to support Ukraine.
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Mr Lammy stated that long-range missiles will be debated again at the UN General Assembly next week.
Sir Keir and Mr Lammy’s failure to win international consent for Ukraine to employ these missiles was “disappointing,” according to Shadow Home Secretary James Cleverly, a former foreign secretary.
He told Phillips that, as foreign secretary, he “lobbied very, very hard” to provide Ukraine with the weapons it needed to protect itself and that his government “led the field” in providing the long-range missiles.
It’s hard negotiations, but we’ve had a good track record so far, and I hope they keep pushing on this, he said.
