The UK Government is coming under increasing pressure to follow the US in allowing long-range missiles to be used by Ukraine inside Russia.
Sir Keir Starmer and Defence Secretary John Healey refused to say whether Kyiv would be given the go-ahead to use British-made Storm Shadow missiles to strike a blow against Moscow as the conflict neared its 1,000th day.
The Prime Minister would say only that the UK would “double down” on support for Ukraine.
On Sunday it emerged that US President Joe Biden has given permission for Volodymyr Zelensky to deploy ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile Systems) against targets in Russia – triggering warnings from the Kremlin and Donald Trump’s team that it would hasten a third world war.
It is believed that the UK wants to allow the use of Storm Shadows but this can only be done with Washington’s permission as the missiles rely on the use of US target data.
Labour and Conservative MPs called on the Government to press for US approval, and warned without them Kyiv was “fighting and defending itself with one hand tied behind its back”.
Downing Street did not confirm or deny a report in The Sun that the White House was still blocking the use of Storm Shadows. While the missiles are British-made, they require US navigational technology to be deployed.
Defence minister Maria Eagle, when asked by Conservative MP Sir Roger Gale whether the UK would align with the US on the use of weapons, told the Commons that “we intend to align with our allies”.
Ministry of Defence sources insisted she was speaking about general collaboration with allies over Ukraine. Starmer told reporters at the G20 summit in Rio that “we must double down on our support for Ukraine”.
Asked by broadcasters whether he would support the use of Storm Shadows in principle, the Prime Minister added: “I’m not going to get into operational details because Putin is the only winner in that situation.
“But I’ve been really clear for a long time now that we need to double down. We need to make sure Ukraine has what is necessary for as long as necessary, because we cannot allow Putin to win this war.”
Starmer also appeared to dismiss suggestions that the US move would trigger a third world war.
Asked how he responded to allies of Trump that the missile decision could cause a global conflict, he said: “I haven’t spoken to Russia and I’ve got no plans to do so.”
He added: “We have to support Ukraine in this. This is about the sovereignty of Ukraine, but it’s also about our own freedoms and that’s why for 1,000 days, we’ve stood with Ukraine and will continue to do so.
“My number one issue, here at the G20, is to make sure that we absolutely double down on support for Ukraine for as long as it takes.”
President Putin, however, threatened a “tangible response” if long-range missiles were fired into Russia. A Russian foreign ministry spokesman said: “Kyiv’s use of long-range missiles to attack our territory would represent the direct involvement of the United States and its satellites in hostilities against Russia, as well as a radical change in the essence and nature of the conflict.
“Russia’s response in such a case will be appropriate and tangible.”
The Kremlin also said the move would “add fuel to the fire”.
“It is obvious that the outgoing administration in Washington intends to take steps, and they have been talking about this, to continue adding fuel to the fire and provoking further escalation of tensions around this conflict,” spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
Labour MP and chairman of the Commons Defence Committee Labour MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi said: “Given the continuous bombing of Ukrainian communities by Russia, and given that we’ve got thousands of North Korean troops fighting against our ally, in our continent, will Ukraine now be allowed to use those Storm Shadow missiles? Obviously within the confines of international law.
“Or are are we expecting Ukraine to continue fighting and defending itself with one hand tied behind its back and to keep those Storm Shadows in safe storage?”
Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge told Healey: “We welcome very strongly the decision by the United States to permit Ukraine to use long-range missiles in Kursk. I know he doesn’t want to go into operational detail, I understand that, but can I assure him of our support if he now follows through in relation to Storm Shadow, as we believe he should.”
The Defence Secretary said he would not compromise operations but added: “The one person responsible for escalation in this conflict is President Putin. The one side that has been escalating in recent months is Russia.”
Former defence secretary Sir Ben Wallace told Radio 4’s The World at One that allowing the use of Storm Shadows would be legitimate under international law.
He added: “Nobody’s talking about the big cities of Russia; it wouldn’t reach Moscow, it wouldn’t reach St Petersburg, none of these things. This is about hitting divisional level structures that are supporting the invasion.
“We shouldn’t let the Russians deceive us that somehow this is about a major strategical strike capability.”
Asked whether the report suggesting Storm Shadows were still being blocked by the US, a Downing Street spokeswoman said: “I’m not going to get into any speculation. Continue to point you to the White House for any statements on their position.”
Asked about Eagles remarks about “intending to align with allies”, the spokeswoman said: “It’s always been the case that we will work with our allies on ensuring that Ukraine gets the support that it needs, and our conversations have always been focused on our broader strategic support, and equally, we’ve also always said that no war was ever won with one single piece of kit.
“So those are our long-standing positions.”
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