UK expected to give Ukraine Storm Shadow missiles to strike inside Russia

Britain is anticipated to provide Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine for attacking sites within Russia, following President Joe Biden's approval to supply the comparable American long-range Atacms missile system.

At the G20 summit, Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized that the UK acknowledged the need to significantly increase its support for Ukraine. Meanwhile, diplomatic insiders indicated that they anticipate other European nations will take cues from the United States in this regard.

The prime minister mentioned that, although he would avoid discussing specific operations, he acknowledged the necessity of increasing support for Ukraine, particularly after its electricity infrastructure suffered significant damage from a series of Russian airstrikes on Sunday.

“I’ve been very straightforward for quite a while now: we must intensify our efforts. It's crucial that we provide Ukraine with the resources it needs for as long as it takes. We cannot let Putin emerge victorious in this conflict,” the prime minister stated.

Russia, on the other hand, blamed the West for increasing tensions and warned that Biden might be making the situation in Ukraine worse. Meanwhile, although Donald Trump didn’t comment on the matter, his son, Don Jr., claimed that the military-industrial complex was eager to provoke a third world war.

Storm Shadow missiles can travel approximately 250 kilometers (155 miles), which is comparable to the US Atacms. In the past, the UK and France have supplied these missiles to Kyiv for targeting sites within Ukraine's internationally recognized boundaries.

However, the United States maintained a strong control over their usage, as it provides a guidance system, and the UK's persistent efforts to change this stance had not been successful. It wasn't until after Donald Trump's recent election victory that the US attitude started to change slightly.

Ukraine aims to hit military barracks, fuel and supply centers, and airbases further into Russia to counter Moscow's persistent assaults on its territory. In contrast, Russia has the capability to target locations throughout Ukraine without restriction.

For years, Biden had denied permission for the use of long-range missiles within Russia. However, on Sunday, he changed his stance and announced that Ukraine could launch Atacms missiles in an effort to stop a predicted counter-offensive from around 50,000 Russian and North Korean troops positioned in Kursk.

Ukraine has grown more frustrated with Britain regarding long-range missiles. Earlier this month, they voiced concerns that not only had there been no advancements in using these missiles against targets in Russia, but that the UK had also ceased all supply of them.

Dmitry Peskov, the spokesperson for Vladimir Putin, claimed that the US is contributing to the escalation of tensions. He stated, “It’s obvious that the departing administration in Washington plans to take actions that will stoke the flames of this conflict even more.” He further remarked, “This choice is irresponsible and hazardous, targeting a significant change that would enhance the level of US involvement.”

Peskov mentioned that Putin made his stance clear back in September. The Russian leader cautioned that allowing Kyiv to use longer-range weapons to hit targets within Russia would mean that NATO would essentially be in direct conflict with Moscow.

Putin mentioned that Moscow would make the right choices in response to the threats it encounters. He also indicated that Russia might provide long-range weapons to other nations for the purpose of striking targets in the West.

Jean-Noël Barrot, the foreign minister of France, mentioned that the French president, Emmanuel Macron, had previously indicated that Paris was willing to contemplate approving the use of its missiles for attacks within Russian territory. The Storm Shadow missiles are produced by MBDA, a company owned by shareholders from the UK, France, and Italy.

“We made it clear that we would think about this possibility if it would enable Ukraine to hit targets from which Russian forces are currently attacking Ukrainian land,” Barrot stated to reporters in Brussels.

Germany's foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, characterized Biden's choice as "significant" and "crucial." Speaking in Brussels, she stated, "The decision made by the U.S. is not a reversal but rather a deepening of the support already provided by other allies, and it is extremely important at this time."

A spokesperson for the German government stated that Germany remains firm on its choice not to send long-range Taurus missiles to Kyiv. Chancellor Olaf Scholz's decision to retain its most advanced missile has become a major source of debate within Germany.

However, Hungary, regarded as Putin's nearest ally within the EU, also voiced its criticisms across Europe.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó took to Facebook to express his views, stating, "The pro-war establishment is making one final, desperate effort to confront the emerging situation," in light of Donald Trump's recent win.

Szijjártó remarked that the aggressive politicians who have been removed from their positions continue to ignore the desires of the public. He emphasized that this behavior is not only a violation of democratic principles but also poses a significant risk.

Trump's team has not made any official statements regarding Biden's actions. Meanwhile, Donald Trump Jr. expressed his disapproval of the decision on social media, saying: "It looks like the military-industrial complex is eager to spark a world war before my father has the opportunity to establish peace and protect lives. They just want to secure those trillions of dollars, regardless of the consequences! They're fools!"

Elon Musk, a strong supporter of Trump, stated on his social media platform, X, that Russia would react in kind to the approval given by the US.

Several Russian officials expressed their expectations that the new Trump administration would reverse the decision once it took office in late January. “The Biden team is working to intensify the situation as much as possible while they are still in control,” remarked Russian lawmaker Maria Butina.

A spokesperson for Starmer stated that the UK prime minister is looking for allies to increase their support for Ukraine. He plans to address this topic during discussions with other leaders at the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro. While a private meeting between the prime minister and Biden is not anticipated, they will have the opportunity to engage during the event.

John Healey, the defense secretary, expressed comparable sentiments regarding Storm Shadow in the Commons on Monday. He provided the strongest indication so far that a positive decision regarding Ukraine's use of Storm Shadow in Russian territories was anticipated. While stating, “I won't discuss operational security or comment on long-range systems today,” he emphasized that the UK acknowledges Ukraine's need for additional assistance. “The prime minister has been clear, and I echo that to the House today, that we need to intensify our support for Ukraine,” he stated.