Productive Talks Between Starmer and Biden, but No Shift on Long-Range Missiles for Ukraine

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and US President Joe Biden held “productive” talks in Washington, focusing on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. However, despite the high-level discussions, there was no indication that the UK or US would authorize Kyiv to launch long-range missile strikes into Russia.

Sir Keir emphasized that the conversations revolved around the overall strategy of supporting Ukraine rather than any immediate tactical decisions. Meanwhile, the White House expressed deep concern over the involvement of Iran and North Korea in supplying lethal weapons to Russia, further complicating the conflict.

Ukrainian Call for More Defense Capabilities

Earlier on Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that Russia had launched over 70 Iranian-made drones across Ukraine in a single night. Zelensky reiterated Ukraine’s urgent need for more air defense systems and long-range capabilities to protect civilians and essential infrastructure.

“We are working on this with all Ukrainian partners,” Zelensky said, stressing that Ukraine requires greater support to fend off persistent Russian aerial attacks.

Putin’s Warnings and Western Hesitation

In advance of the Starmer-Biden talks, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a stern warning to Western nations, stating that allowing Ukraine to fire long-range missiles into Russia would signal NATO’s “direct participation” in the war. However, former UK Defense Secretary Sir Ben Wallace and US diplomats have dismissed such rhetoric as an attempt by Putin to deter Western nations from bolstering Ukrainian defense capabilities.

Sir Wallace, speaking on BBC Radio 4, expressed disappointment over the ongoing reluctance to authorize long-range missile use, arguing that NATO should ignore Putin’s threats and support Ukraine more aggressively. Kurt Volker, former US special representative for Ukraine negotiations, added that Putin’s comments were intended to intimidate the West into inaction, but held little relevance to actual Russian plans.

“The reason Putin says these things is to deter us from acting, not because it will affect what he really intends to do,” Volker noted. He also downplayed the idea that supplying long-range missiles to Ukraine would provoke a significant escalation, a fear shared by some US officials.

Biden: “I Don’t Think Much About Putin”

When questioned about Putin’s warnings, President Biden offered a blunt response: “I don’t think much about Vladimir Putin.” To date, neither the US nor the UK has given Ukraine permission to strike deep within Russian territory using long-range missiles, largely due to concerns over the potential for escalation. Nonetheless, Zelensky has repeatedly urged Kyiv’s Western allies to reconsider this stance, asserting that targeting Russian military bases across the border is essential for ending the war.

Since the Russian invasion in February 2022, Ukrainian cities have endured constant bombardment, with missiles and glide bombs launched from deep within Russia targeting civilian infrastructure, energy facilities, and military sites. Ukraine argues that without the ability to strike these launch bases, it remains vulnerable to continued attacks.

UK’s Stance on Self-Defense

In a previous statement, the UK government acknowledged Ukraine’s right to use British-provided weapons in self-defense, including operations within Russia, though this did not extend to long-range Storm Shadow missiles. These long-range missiles, provided earlier by the UK, are restricted for use within Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders, despite mounting calls from Kyiv for greater flexibility.

Diplomatic Strain Between Russia and the UK

The talks between Starmer and Biden coincided with heightened diplomatic tensions, as Russia expelled six British diplomats on accusations of espionage. The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) claimed to possess documents showing Britain’s involvement in what it called an effort to inflict a “strategic defeat” on Russia. The UK Foreign Office dismissed the allegations as baseless, while analysts like Justin Crump suggested that Moscow was testing the resolve of both the new Labour government and the Biden administration.

Crump remarked that Russia is already supplying weapons to adversaries of NATO and engaging in covert activities such as cyberattacks, espionage, and disinformation campaigns. However, he cautioned that Russia cannot afford a full-scale confrontation with NATO, given its current struggles in the war against Ukraine.

US Sanctions on Russian Media

In a parallel development, the US announced new sanctions against the Russian media outlet RT, accusing it of acting as a “de facto arm of Russia’s intelligence apparatus.” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken underscored RT’s role in undermining democracy and covertly influencing elections in Western countries. In response, Margarita Simonyan, the editor-in-chief of RT, dismissed the allegations, claiming that many RT staff had received their education and funding from the US.

Outlook on Ukraine’s Long-Range Missile Capabilities

The ongoing debate over whether Ukraine should be permitted to use long-range missiles continues to reflect broader tensions between Western powers and Russia. While Zelensky maintains that such capabilities are vital for Ukraine’s defense, the US and UK remain cautious about the potential ramifications of allowing strikes inside Russia.

As both Sir Keir Starmer and Joe Biden reaffirmed their commitment to a strategic approach in their talks, the future of Ukraine’s long-range capabilities remains unresolved. However, with continued Russian aggression and Zelensky’s persistent appeals for greater military support, the pressure on Western allies to act is unlikely to dissipate soon.