Great Britain allows Ukraine to fire its missiles deep into Russian territory

(Patria) - British media report that this country, behind closed doors, has given Ukraine the green light to use its Storm Shadow missiles for strikes deep into Russian territory.

According to The Guardian newspaper, government sources said that a decision has already been made to allow Kyiv to use British-made cruise missiles within Russia.

The move has not been announced and is unlikely to be publicly disclosed even when British Prime Minister Keir Starmer meets with US President Joe Biden in Washington on September 13. British officials have not confirmed The Guardian's report.

For months, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been pleading with Kyiv's allies to allow Ukraine to fire Western weapons, including long-range American ATACMS and British Storm Shadows, deep into Russian territory to limit Moscow's ability to launch attacks.

Biden said earlier this week that his administration is "thinking about" a way to lift the restrictions, although he did not provide any details.

Meanwhile, Secretary of State Antony Blinken strongly hinted yesterday during his visit to Kyiv that the White House is close to a decision to lift restrictions on the use of its long-range weapons.

"We are working urgently to ensure that Ukraine has what it needs to defend itself effectively," Blinken said at a press conference after meeting with British and Ukrainian Foreign Ministers David Lammy and Andriy Sybyh.

Blinken and Lammy left Ukraine after meeting with Ukrainian officials in Kyiv and announcing a new aid package.

Blinken announced more than $700 million in aid, mostly to strengthen Ukraine's energy grid, while Lammy confirmed that his country will provide an additional £600 million ($782 million) in aid and loan guarantees.