Far from de-escalating, the Russia-Ukraine conflict appears headed for the next level of escalation, as the United States and the United Kingdom are likely to soon greenlight the use of long-range weapons by Ukraine, targeting Russia.
Among weapons that Ukraine would most likely be allowed to fire at Russia, if restrictions are lifted, is the Storm Shadow cruise missile, a product of collaboration between the UK and France, with a reported range of 190 miles (300km).
In a report on this, The Guardian said that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken “gave his strongest hint yet” that restrictions on Ukraine using long-range weapons was about to be lifted. He reportedly indicated this during a visit to Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, along with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy. They met President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other officials yesterday.
According to the report, Blinken said that the US had, from the very beginning of this war, been willing to adapt its policy to the ground situation, and would “continue to do this”.
A report by The Independent said: “Until now, the Storm Shadow missiles have been limited to Russian targets operating inside Ukraine, as well as in occupied Crimea. The missiles were likely used in the largest Ukrainian attack on the headquarters of Russia’s Black Sea fleet last year at Sevastopol.”
The reason for the anticipated removal of restrictions on Ukraine firing long-range weapons deep into Russia is the reported consignment of missiles sent by Iran to Russia.
This was a “significant and dangerous escalation”, said the UK foreign secretary, suggesting that both Washington and London were rethinking their strategy in view of this development.
The Guardian quoted Lammy as saying, “The escalator here is [Russian President Vladimir] Putin. Putin has escalated [the war] with the shipment of missiles from Iran. We see a new axis of Russia, Iran and North Korea.” He urged China to not join this alleged axis.
Blinken said after the Kyiv talks that he and Lammy would report back to the “bosses” in the US and the UK, meaning US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The US-UK decision to allow Ukraine to fire long-range weapons, such as cruise missiles, deep into Russia had been taken privately at the high level in both countries, though it was yet to be announced, media reports indicated.
According to The Guardian report: “British government sources indicated that a decision had already been made to allow Ukraine to use Storm Shadow cruise missiles on targets inside Russia, although it is not expected to be publicly announced on Friday when Starmer meets Biden in Washington DC.”
The Russia-Ukraine conflict is on the agenda when the two heads of state meet. This is the second time that Biden is meeting Starmer after the latter taking over the reins of the United Kingdom.
In its report, The Guardian cited sources who said that the Blinken-Lammy joint visit to Kyiv on September 11 itself indicated that there might have been a “positive decision” regarding the use of Storm Shadow cruise missiles. These missiles have “a range of at least 190 miles”, said the report. But, added the sources, it might be “unnecessarily provocative” to make an announcement in Kyiv.
Lifting of restrictions by the US and the UK is what Zelenskyy has wanted for several months now. The Ukrainian side wants to fire long-range weapons that can hit Russian airfields, missile launchers, and command centres located so far out of reach.
In May, the leader of Ukraine, who has resisted Russia for more than two-and-a-half-years now, fighting against all odds and getting world leaders to support him, told The Guardian that his adversaries “don’t understand anything but force”.
