President Joe Biden has signaled a new openness to allowing Ukraine to send long-range missiles to Russia amid a warning from Vladimir Putin that such a move would lead to “war.”
Biden is expected to discuss the issue with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer when the two meet at the White House on Friday afternoon.
US officials told CNN they did not expect immediate approval from Biden to allow the launch of US-provided military tactical missile systems, known as ATACMS, against targets inside Russia.
But the UK has sent its own long-range Storm Shadow missiles to kyiv. Their use, along with similar weapons from France, is currently limited to inside Ukraine.
A change in that policy will require US approval, which is what Biden and Starmer will discuss at their meeting on Friday.
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (left) and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy (right) at the British ambassador’s residence in Washington
Putin has upped the ante, warning NATO leaders that lifting restrictions on Ukraine’s use of long-range missiles would be considered an act of war.
“This will mean that NATO countries, namely the United States and European countries, are at war with Russia. And if this is the case, taking into account the change in the nature of the conflict, we will take appropriate decisions in response to the threats posed to us,” Putin told reporters in Russia on Thursday.
He said he would follow up that move with “appropriate decisions.”
Starmer ignored Putin’s threat.
Speaking to reporters on his way to Washington DC, the British prime minister insisted that the Russian leader started the war in Ukraine and could end the fighting “immediately”.
“There are likely to be some really significant developments in the coming weeks and months, both in Ukraine and in the Middle East, and so a number of tactical decisions need to be taken,” Sir Keir said.
He added: “Russia started this conflict. Russia invaded Ukraine illegally. Russia can end this conflict immediately.”
‘Ukraine has the right to self-defense and we have obviously fully supported that right by providing training capabilities.
“But we are not seeking any conflict with Russia, that is not our intention at all. But they started this conflict and Ukraine has the right to self-defense.”
For his part, Biden has long resisted calls from Ukrainian officials to ease restrictions on missile use.
But as the war continues – and concerns grow over Iran’s supply of ballistic missiles to Russia – a change of strategy is being considered.
“We’re working on that right now,” Biden said earlier this week when asked if he would allow Western missiles to target military facilities inside Russia.
President Joe Biden is considering whether to allow Western missile launches toward Russia
Vladimir Putin warns that Ukraine’s use of Western missiles in Russia would lead to a “war”
The New York Times reported, citing European officials, that the United States appears willing to approve Ukraine’s use of long-range missiles against targets in Russia on the condition that the weapons are not those provided by the United States.
Asked about escalation concerns, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that they are a factor, but “certainly not the only factor.”
He said the United States is always ready to adjust its strategy to help Ukraine.
“From day one, as you heard me say, we’ve adjusted and adapted as the needs have changed, as the battlefield has changed, and I have no doubt that we will continue to do so as this evolves,” Blinken said at a news conference in kyiv.
No formal announcement of a decision is expected on Friday after the two leaders’ meeting.
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy suggested discussions could continue beyond Friday, tempering expectations of a robust announcement from Starmer’s visit to Washington.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (left) and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy (right) meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Mariinsky Palace in Kyiv
A Ukrainian soldier in a mortar unit prepares to fire a missile
There are other issues on the agenda for Biden and Starmer’s two-hour meeting.
Starmer said he was visiting Washington for “strategic meetings to discuss Ukraine and the Middle East.” It is the prime minister’s second meeting with Biden since his centre-left government was elected in July.
The war in the Middle East is expected to be discussed.
Last week, Britain broke with the United States by suspending some arms exports to Israel because of the risk that they could be used to violate international law.
Biden and Starmer’s meeting also comes ahead of the annual gathering of world leaders later this month at the United Nations General Assembly. Both are expected to attend that meeting in New York.