Vithanage Erandi Kawshalya Madhushani Jade Times Staff
V.E.K. Madhushani is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Ukrain - Russia War.
Leaders Focus on Strategic Discussions Amid Rising Tensions Over Long-Range Missile Use
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer held "productive" talks with US President Joe Biden regarding Ukraine, but no decisions were made concerning Kyiv’s request to fire long range missiles into Russia. Instead, the discussion concentrated on broader strategy, rather than specific actions or tactics.
The White House reported that both leaders expressed "deep concern" over Iran and North Korea supplying lethal weapons to Russia. This comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Russia had launched over 70 Iranian made drones across Ukraine overnight, renewing calls for enhanced air defense and long range capabilities to protect civilians. Zelensky emphasized ongoing efforts with international partners to secure this support.
Russian President Vladimir Putin recently warned Western nations against allowing Ukraine to fire long range missiles into Russia, claiming that such actions would signify NATO's direct involvement in the war. Former UK Defense Secretary Sir Ben Wallace dismissed Putin's warning, stating that prolonged hesitation on the issue only benefits Russia. Wallace emphasized the need to support Ukraine's defensive capabilities, arguing that Putin’s rhetoric is designed to deter Western support rather than reflecting genuine red lines.
Ahead of the talks, Biden downplayed concerns about Putin, stating, "I don't think much about Vladimir Putin." Despite Kyiv's repeated requests, neither the US nor the UK has yet granted permission for Ukraine to use long range missiles against Russian targets, primarily due to concerns about escalation.
Ukraine has argued that not being able to strike the bases from which Russian missiles are launched severely hampers its self defense. While the UK previously stated that Ukraine has the right to use British provided weapons for self defense including cross border operations this excludes long range Storm Shadow missiles beyond Ukraine's recognized borders.
During their meeting, Starmer and Biden also touched on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and other global issues, with the two leaders set to continue these discussions at the United Nations General Assembly. John Kirby, US National Security Council spokesperson, reiterated that Washington has no immediate plans to change the restrictions on Ukraine's use of US supplied weapons against Russian territory.
In a separate development, Moscow expelled six British diplomats, accusing them of espionage and implicating the UK in efforts to strategically undermine Russia. The UK Foreign Office dismissed these claims as "completely baseless."
US National Security Advisor Kurt Volker suggested that Putin's aggressive rhetoric is part of a broader strategy to deter further Western support for Ukraine. Defense analyst Justin Crump added that Russia’s strained resources make it unlikely for the country to escalate conflict with NATO, especially given its ongoing struggles in Ukraine.
In addition to these diplomatic tensions, the US imposed new sanctions against the Russian media channel RT, describing it as a "de facto arm of Russia's intelligence apparatus." The US accused RT of attempting to undermine American democracy, further straining relations between the two countries.
While discussions continue, no immediate resolution on Ukraine's use of long-range missiles has been reached. However, strategic talks between the US and the UK signal ongoing cooperation amid growing global tensions.
