British PM Urged to Permit Ukraine’s Use of Long-Range Missiles – Sunday Times By Reuters

LONDON (Reuters) – Former defence secretaries and an ex-prime minister have urged British Labour leader Keir Starmer to permit Ukraine to utilize long-range missiles within Russian territory, even without support from the United States, according to the Sunday Times.

The appeal was made by five former Conservative defence secretaries: Grant Shapps, Ben Wallace, Gavin Williamson, Penny Mordaunt, and Liam Fox, along with ex-Prime Minister Boris Johnson. They cautioned Starmer that any further delay could embolden President Putin.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has been imploring allies for months to allow Ukraine to use Western missiles, including long-range U.S. ATACMS and British Storm Shadows, to diminish Moscow’s capacity to conduct attacks.

Starmer and U.S. President Joe Biden discussed the possibility of permitting Ukraine to use long-range missiles against targets in Russia during talks in Washington on Friday, but no decision was reached.

Some U.S. officials remain skeptical that enabling the use of such missiles would significantly alter Ukraine’s efforts against Russian forces.

President Vladimir Putin has asserted that if Ukraine were allowed to strike with Western-made long-range missiles, it would signify direct involvement of the West in fighting Russia.