President Joe Biden has allowed Ukraine to strike inside Russia with long-range US missiles, prompting dire warnings from Moscow. The Kremlin has accused Washington of adding “fuel to the fire” and trying to escalate the conflict.
In the last few weeks Russia escalated the conflict by bringing in around 10,000 North Korean soldiers into the conflict and targeting civilian areas. As Ukraine has been increasingly losing land due to the battlefield advantage Russia currently has and the recent escalation, the U.S has given them permission to use U.S missiles to target areas within Russia for the first time.
Putin has drawn lines that the West has crossed before
Back in September, Russia’s President Putin drew a line, warning that allowing Ukraine to use long-range missiles in Russia would represent the “direct participation” of NATO countries in the war in Ukraine.
It’s not the only warning Russia has issued throughout the war, nor is it the only warning that the West has failed to abide by.
Back in February 2022, when Russia launched its full-scale invasion into Ukraine, Putin warned “those who may be tempted to interfere from the outside” would face consequences “such as you have never seen in your entire history”.
Since then, Western nations have supported Ukraine with aid including tanks and F-16 fighter jets.
In August, it was confirmed by a source that UK-donated Challenger 2 tanks had been used by Ukraine during its incursion into Russia itself.
Over the last two years, Russia has repeatedly accused the West of “fighting Russia” or launching “a war” on Russia.
Will the UK allow Storm Shadow missiles to be used in Ukraine ?
UK Defence Secretary John Healey says he won’t comment on Ukraine’s use of Anglo-Franco Storm Shadow missiles today.
“It risks operational security and the only person that benefits from public debate is President [Vladimir] Putin,” Healey told the House of Commons on Monday afternoon.
He added that he spoke to his US counterpart yesterday, and will speak with the Ukrainian minister of defence later today.
Reiterating the prime minister’s comments that the UK must “double down” on its support for Ukraine, Healey added that Britain will continue to work in close coordination with the US.
Britain and France have supplied Ukraine with Storm Shadow missiles, but they remain under the same restrictions that the US ATACM missiles were under until very recently.