Britain has stated it will not allow Ukraine to use its long-range missiles supplied to Ukraine against targets in Russia without the agreement of the US, according to a report by The Times.
On 15 September, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy again pleaded with the UK and US to overcome their “fear” and show “decisiveness” on the issue, stating,
“The world must help us defend ourselves against Russian military aircraft and the dozens of guided aerial bombs that claim Ukrainian lives every day,” he said, emphasizing that “only decisiveness can bring a just end to this war.”
Adding to the pressure, five former UK defense secretaries and an ex-prime minister have urged Sir Keir Starmer to proceed unilaterally. They warn that delays will only embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin, The Times says.
Despite these calls, the UK government has decided not to “go it alone.” The Times reports that this stance is primarily due to the perceived importance of US guidance systems in ensuring the missiles hit their intended targets accurately.
David Lammy, the UK foreign secretary, told BBC1 that there needed to be a “shared strategy” among western allies. Lammy stated, “It’s important that as allies supporting Ukraine, we have a shared strategy to win going forward.”
The British government believes that the United States is likely to give the green light for the use of these long-range missiles at the upcoming UN General Assembly in New York, although there are divisions within President Joe Biden’s administration.
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