President Joe Biden “has not ruled out” allowing Ukraine to fire foreign-made missiles into Russia, the United States said late on Tuesday.
And British sources said the US could allow the use of long-range cruise missiles “within weeks”, according to The Times.
The US move came as David Lammy and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met in London amid pressure to allow kyiv to use Western weapons.
Asked about the West’s stance on missiles, Blinken said: “We never rule anything out. But when we do, we want to make sure it’s done in a way that can advance what the Ukrainians are trying to achieve.”
Mr Lammy will make a rare joint trip to Ukraine with his US counterpart this week. The Foreign Secretary will travel to the war-torn country on a “massively important” visit to hear what is needed on the ground.
President Joe Biden (pictured) “has not ruled out” allowing Ukraine to fire foreign-made missiles into Russia, the US said last night
This photo shows a residential building damaged after a Ukrainian drone strike in Ramenskoye, Moscow region, on September 10, 2024.
Asked about the West’s stance on the missiles, Antony Blinken (pictured right) said: “We never rule anything out. But when we do, we want to make sure it’s done in a way that can advance what the Ukrainians are trying to achieve.”
At least one civilian has been killed in a Ukrainian drone strike in Moscow
The talks between the two men at the Foreign Ministry came after one of the largest Ukrainian drone attacks on mainland Russia in the conflict so far.
Kremlin officials said they intercepted 144 Ukrainian drones heading toward Moscow and other major cities.
One woman was reportedly killed and three people injured when residential buildings caught fire. Another 43 people were evacuated.
On the joint trip to Ukraine, Lammy and Blinken will hear President Volodymyr Zelensky’s request for permission to use long-range Western weapons, such as Storm Shadow missiles, to strike targets inside Russia.
Mr Lammy yesterday declined to comment on the matter, saying it “would be completely wrong to comment on the details of operational issues”.
Speaking at a news conference alongside Blinken, he said his comments could benefit Vladimir Putin.
Mr Blinken said one of the “purposes” of the trip to Kyiv would be to hear from Mr Zelensky “about…what we can do to support (the country’s) needs”.
Following the drone attack in Russia yesterday, flights to and from Moscow airports have been suspended.
Although no strategically valuable targets were hit, the Ukrainian airstrike offered further proof of the country’s ability to strike far inside Russia.
Ukraine has been explicit about its motivation for bringing war to the Russian people.
Iran sanctioned by YUK and US for supplying ballistic missiles to Russia
By Harriet Line and Natalie Lisbona in Tel Aviv
Iran was sanctioned yesterday by the United Kingdom and the United States after both countries formally accused Tehran of supplying ballistic missiles to Russia.
The UK government has announced it will cancel its air services agreement with Iran, which will restrict Iran Air’s ability to fly to the UK and Europe.
And it is sanctioning a number of individuals and organizations for their role in facilitating Iran’s military support for Russia.
At a joint news conference in London, Foreign Secretary David Lammy and his US counterpart, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, said Iran had ignored warnings that the transfer of such weapons would be a deep escalation of the conflict.
Mr Lammy warned last night that Iran’s supply of ballistic missiles to Russia constituted “a significant and dangerous escalation”.
At a joint news conference in London, Foreign Secretary David Lammy and his US counterpart, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, said Iran had ignored warnings that the transfer of such weapons would be a deep escalation of the conflict.
Yoav Gallant (pictured) spoke as his country braces for a retaliatory strike following the killing of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
“We have been clear that any transfer of ballistic missiles by Iran would be met with a significant response,” he said.
Iran, as it has with previous US intelligence findings, has denied supplying arms to Russia for its war in Ukraine.
This comes after Israel’s defence secretary warned that Iran is “close” to acquiring nuclear weapons after the hardline regime’s programme has gone unchecked for years.
Yoav Gallant spoke as his country braces for a retaliatory strike following the assassination of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
He also criticised Britain’s partial arms embargo – which came days after six Israeli hostages were executed – as “not positive”.
Iran said only a ceasefire agreement would delay its counterattack following the attack on Haniyeh in July.
But fears are growing as Hamas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have yet to reach an agreement.
Mr Gallant issued a strong rebuke on Monday, warning Tehran: “We have the ability to strike any strategic target in Iran.”
But he warned that their capabilities could soon turn nuclear, with even more terrifying potential than the hundreds of missiles, rockets and drones they launched at Israel in April.
“Iran is behind the chaos,” he said. “Iran is creating a war of attrition against Israel in order to gain time and space to acquire nuclear capabilities, and they are close to achieving that.”
