According to a report by The Times, Britain has stated that it will not allow Ukraine to use the long-range missiles supplied to them against targets in Russia without the agreement of the US. This decision comes despite Ukraine’s appeals for help as Russian air attacks on Ukrainian cities continue to escalate.
Western countries, including the US and UK, have restricted Ukraine’s use of their long-range weapons, such as ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles, in order to prevent deep strikes inside Russia. This is allegedly to avoid further escalation of the conflict.
On 15 September, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy once again pleaded with the UK and US to show “decisiveness” and overcome their “fear” in regards to this issue. He emphasized that only decisive action can bring an end to the ongoing war. In addition, five former UK defense secretaries and an ex-prime minister have urged Sir Keir Starmer to take action, warning that delays will only embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Despite these calls, the UK government has decided not to take action unilaterally. The Times reports that this decision is primarily due to the perceived importance of US guidance systems in ensuring the accuracy of the missiles’ targets.
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy stated on BBC1 that there needs to be a “shared strategy” among western allies in supporting Ukraine. He added, “It’s important that as allies, we have a shared strategy to move forward and win.”
The British government believes that the United States is likely to give the green light for the use of these long-range missiles at the upcoming UN General Assembly in New York. However, there are divisions within President Joe Biden’s administration on this issue.
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