British Prime Minister called to allow Ukraine to use long-range missiles

(Patria) - British Labour leader Keir Starmer has been called by former defence ministers and a former prime minister to allow Ukraine to use long-range missiles on Russian territory even without the support of the United States, the Sunday Times reported on Saturday, Reuters reported.

According to the Sunday Times, the call came from five former Conservative defence secretaries (Grant Shapps, Ben Wallace, Gavin Williamson, Penny Mordaunt and Liam Fox) as well as former prime minister Boris Johnson. They warned Starmer that "any further delay would encourage President Putin," the Sunday Times writes.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been begging allies for months to allow Ukraine to use Western missiles, including the US long-range ATACMS and British Storm Shadows, deep inside Russia to limit Moscow's ability to launch attacks.

Starmer and US President Joe Biden discussed on Friday in Washington whether to allow Kyiv to use long-range missiles against targets in Russia. No decision was announced.

Some US officials are deeply skeptical that allowing the use of such missiles would make a significant difference in Kyiv's fight against Russian invaders.

President Vladimir Putin said the West would be directly fighting Russia if it allowed Ukraine to attack with Western-made long-range missiles.