In a historic statement to the UK cabinet, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy pushed Sir Keir Starmer to display leadership and authorize the deployment of British weaponry by Ukraine to launch attacks deep within Russia.
According to Zelenskyy, Kyiv could fortify its fortifications and regain control of its frontline positions if the ban on Western weaponry were lifted. As long as international law is respected, the UK government has indicated that the deployment of British missiles is essentially Ukraine’s problem. It is up to Ukraine to decide how to deploy the Storm Shadow weaponry, said to Defence Secretary John Healey, who added that the regulations do not prohibit them from targeting targets in Russia.
Up until now, the government has only authorized Kyiv’s use of British-made Storm Shadow missiles against targets in Crimea and mainland Ukraine; firing them at targets within Russia is still off-limits. By stating that it is “up to Ukraine to decide” how to deploy the missiles so long as the country conforms with international law, Sir Keir seemed to imply earlier this month that the prohibition had been removed.
During Zelenskyy’s visit to Downing Street, Sir Keir said that it was a very special moment and that the UK is united in the Parliament in its support of Kyiv.
As the first foreign leader to address the Cabinet in person since Clinton in 1997, the president of Ukraine will also be the first head of state to visit Downing Street and Sir Keir’s administration. In addition to finalizing a £3.5 billion defense export financing agreement with Sir Keir, he is anticipated to apprise ministers of the scenario in Ukraine and the necessity to broaden Europe’s defense industrial base.
Sir Keir implied last week that Ukraine may fire the missiles against Russian targets; but, the prime minister’s office promptly recanted, stating that government policy regarding the employment of the long-range Storm Shadow missiles remained unchanged.
According to Sir Keir, the UK and its European allies have made it plain that they will not stand idly by while Putin’s shadow fleet and the corrupt money it makes sail freely across European waterways, endangering our national security.