UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s upcoming visit to Washington DC seems to be the tipping point for a long-lingering issue in the White House – whether or not to grant Ukraine permission to deploy long-range Western weaponry deep into Russian soil. European officials disclosed that President Biden seems inclined to grant such approval, provided that the weapons used are not of American origin.
Britain has already expressed to the US its willingness to authorise Ukraine’s utilisation of its long-distance “Storm Shadow” missiles to strike Russian military sites located far beyond the Ukrainian borders. However, the UK is awaiting a green light from President Biden to demonstrate a united strategy with both the US and France – the latter nation also manufacturing similar missile technology. Although a decision from Biden remains pending, discussions with Prime Minister Starmer are expected on Friday.
This could potentially bolster Ukraine should they decide to seize Russian land, as seen during their sudden incursion into Russia’s Kursk region. Nonetheless, Biden has exhibited reservation concerning Ukraine’s utilisation of American weaponry under similar circumstances, specifically amid cautionary advice from US intelligence that Russia may retaliate by assisting Iran in targeting US forces stationed in the Middle East.
Despite the lack of any imminent decision from the White House concerning the utilisation of US-made surface-to-surface Army Tactical Missile Systems, dubbed ATACMS, President Biden hinted at an impending relaxation of restrictions. In response to increasingly urgent requests from Ukraine, he remarked, “We are working that out right now.”.
If Biden allows both the UK and France to proceed, and subsequently grants the use of ATACMS, this could well be his final step in augmenting military assistance to Ukraine.
Behind the scenes, Senate Republican leaders have been calling for a rigorous response; this is in stark contrast to the stance of former President Donald Trump, who refrained from expressing support for Ukraine in a recent presidential debate, nor did he urge Russia to withdraw from the approximately 20% of Ukraine it has currently occupied.
In a recent statement, Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested that only with the aid of Western technical support and satellite navigation can the Ukrainians operate these missiles.
“This signifies that Nato nations, including the US and several nations in Europe, would be engaged in a conflict with Russia,” was the statement he made, as reported by the Kremlin. He also indicated that, in reaction to potential threats, fitting decisions would be formulated by them. This piece was initially published in The New York Times and is a property of The New York Times Company, 2024.”