Discussions between U.S. President Joe Biden and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer left the question of Ukraine using long-range missiles against Russia open, with further talks expected at the United Nations General Assembly.
During a meeting at the White House on Friday, U.S. President Joe Biden and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer left unresolved the issue of whether Ukraine will be allowed to use Western-supplied long-range missiles to strike into Russia. The two leaders discussed Ukraine’s ongoing war with Russia, but no immediate decisions were made regarding Kyiv’s pleas to lift restrictions on using weapons like Anglo-French Storm Shadow missiles and U.S.-supplied Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS).
The conversation, described by Starmer as “long and productive,” will continue in the coming days at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), where broader discussions with other world leaders are anticipated. “This isn’t about a particular decision,” Starmer told reporters after the meeting. “We’ll obviously pick up again at UNGA with a wider group of individuals.”
The question of whether Ukraine should be allowed to use long-range arms to strike targets inside Russia remains a sensitive topic. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly urged Western nations to lift the restrictions, emphasizing Ukraine’s right to self-defense. Currently, U.S. policy restricts Kyiv from using U.S.-supplied weapons beyond its borders.
The meeting between Biden and Starmer came one day after Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that NATO’s potential decision to allow Ukraine to use Western-supplied long-range missiles could lead to an escalation of the war. Putin suggested that such a move would mark NATO’s direct involvement and vowed that Moscow would make “appropriate decisions” to defend itself.
I know the TV said he is a "crazy dictator" but you need to pay attention to and take this in. We are actually trying to start WWIII here.
— Jack Spirko⚡️ (@TheSurvivalPodc) September 12, 2024
He is measured, logical, clear and well thought out in this response. I hope the idiotic neocons running DOD listen. pic.twitter.com/Da3GrCJ9NL
When asked about Putin’s remarks, Biden responded bluntly: “I don’t think much of Vladimir Putin.”
Earlier this week, Biden’s comments to reporters sparked speculation about a potential policy shift. Speaking aboard Marine One, Biden said, “We’re working that out right now,” in response to questions about the use of long-range missiles. However, on Friday, White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby clarified that U.S. policy had not changed, and there was no immediate announcement on long-range strike capabilities.
“There’s been no change to U.S. policy regarding long-range strikes into Russia,” Kirby told reporters. He declined to comment on whether the United Kingdom or France, both of which supply Ukraine with the Anglo-French Storm Shadow missile, might independently lift their restrictions. “These are sovereign countries, and they’ll decide what their support to Ukraine looks like,” Kirby added.
The Storm Shadow missile, a cruise missile with a range of around 155 miles, is currently supplied to Ukraine by both France and Britain under strict usage conditions that limit its deployment to within Ukrainian borders.
Biden and Starmer met for a private one-on-one session in the Oval Office before a larger meeting with aides. According to the White House readout, the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression and discussed a range of other foreign policy issues, including Iran, North Korea, and concerns about civilian protection in Gaza.
The leaders also addressed their countries’ cooperation on clean energy, the AUKUS pact, and the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, with Biden emphasizing its importance for maintaining peace in Northern Ireland.
The question of long-range missile usage by Ukraine is likely to remain a key topic as world leaders convene at the United Nations General Assembly, with significant implications for the future of the conflict.
On Friday, Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, endorsed Ukraine’s use of NATO long-range missiles despite Putin’s WWIII warning.
Putin Warns NATO of War if Ukraine Deploys Long-Range Missiles
Russian President Vladimir Putin cautioned that NATO would be “at war” with Russia if Ukraine is permitted to use long-range missiles against targets within Russia as Biden is set to discuss the possibility of doing so with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a stark warning to NATO and Western nations on Thursday, declaring that they would be directly involved in a military conflict with Russia if Ukraine is allowed to use long-range missiles against Russian territory. Putin’s comments were reported by Reuters and Agence France-Presse, highlighting rising tensions as discussions on expanding Ukraine’s missile capabilities unfold.
Putin’s statement comes just ahead of President Joe Biden’s meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the White House, where the topic of Ukraine’s use of long-range missiles is expected to be discussed. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken had also wrapped up a Ukraine-focused European tour, intensifying speculation about whether the U.S. and its allies will grant Kyiv permission to strike deep into Russian territory using Western-supplied weaponry.
“It would mean that NATO countries, the U.S., European countries, are at war with Russia,” Putin told Russian state TV, underscoring the potential global ramifications of such a move. He added that if this step is taken, Russia would respond based on the new threats it faces, fundamentally altering the nature of the conflict.
Ukraine has long requested the ability to use long-range missiles supplied by Western nations to target Russian military installations, especially in the wake of allegations that Iran has provided Russia with advanced Fath-360 short-range ballistic missiles. These missiles, according to U.S. Secretary of State Blinken, mark a “dramatic escalation” in the ongoing war.
Should the U.S. and its allies lift the ban on long-range missile strikes, Ukraine could utilize U.S. Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) and Anglo-French Storm Shadow missiles to hit Russian targets as far as 190 miles deep into the country. According to a report by The Daily Mail, the Institute for the Study of War estimated that 245 known Russian military targets, including 16 airbases, would be within range of these strikes.
Putin emphasized that the decision to allow such missile use is not just a matter of permitting Ukraine to act but would signify NATO’s direct involvement in the war. “This will be their direct participation,” he warned, noting that the conflict would escalate considerably should such action be taken.
As the international community watches closely, Biden and Western leaders must weigh the risks of allowing Ukraine to extend its military reach while navigating the fragile geopolitical landscape. For more detailed analysis, see the full Daily Mail report and insights from the Institute for the Study of War.
