New Delhi: Ukraine is urgently requesting British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles, a move that has incensed Russia. U.S. President Joe Biden and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, however, appeared unfazed by Russian President Vladimir Putins warnings as they discussed Ukraines appeal to use these missiles against Russian targets.When asked about Putins claim that such an action would bring NATO into war with Russia, Biden simply stated, “I dont think much about Vladimir Putin.” He further hinted that a decision on allowing Ukraine to strike deeper into Russian territory would be part of their ongoing discussions, saying, “Were going to discuss that now.”Starmer holds off on missile decisionAfter their meeting, Starmer emphasized that no final decision had been made on the deployment of Storm Shadow missiles but hinted at further updates during the U.N. General Assembly later in the month. “Well obviously pick up again in UNGA in just a few days time with a wider group of individuals,” he remarked.Starmer insisted that the meeting wasnt focused on a specific military capability but stressed that the two leaders had reached a “strong position.” When questioned if their focus on the next few weeks was influenced by the upcoming U.S. presidential election, Starmer denied any connection, dismissing the notion that their strategy was impacted by the political timeline, despite former President Donald Trumps controversial praise of Putin as a genius.“There are significant developments expected in both Ukraine and the Middle East in the coming weeks, regardless of whats happening in other countries elections,” he explained.Leaders meet to discuss strategic challengesStarmer and Bidens one-on-one meeting lasted around 20 minutes, followed by a broader session with their respective teams, where they covered strategic issues including Ukraine and the Middle East. The U.K. prime minister did not rule out the potential use of Storm Shadow missiles by Ukraine, despite Russias threats. “Russia started this conflict. Russia illegally invaded Ukraine. Russia can end this conflict immediately,” Starmer told reporters.Both U.S. and U.K. officials stressed that there was no immediate decision on the use of long-range Storm Shadow missiles during Fridays meeting. White House National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby stated, “I wouldnt expect an announcement today about long-range strike capabilities inside Russia. Our policy on this hasnt changed.”It was great to welcome Prime Minister Keir Starmer back to the White House.The United States and the United Kingdom will continue to address global issues as the closest of friends and allies. pic.twitter.com/ObKSHbkFQb— President Biden (@POTUS) September 14, 2024Ukraine and Russia apply pressure on the westDespite no immediate decision, both Russia and Ukraine continued to push for action. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed frustration, stating on X, formerly known as Twitter, “Its hard to keep hearing, We are working on this, while Putin continues to destroy our cities and villages.” Meanwhile, Moscow retaliated by expelling six British diplomats, accusing them of espionage. The U.K. dismissed the claims as “baseless,” noting the diplomats had already lost their status in August, prior to the current dispute.In a separate move, the U.S. State Department imposed new sanctions on the Russian state media outlet RT, escalating the tension between the two nations.Boris Johnson pressures for more military supportFormer U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited Kyiv on Friday to meet with Zelenskyy, adding his voice to the growing pressure on the U.K. and U.S. to permit Ukraines use of long-range missiles, including the Storm Shadow, SCALP, and ATACMS. Johnson stressed, “Every day that passes leads to more unnecessary and tragic loss of Ukrainian lives.”Conservative ex-Defense Secretary Grant Shapps echoed this sentiment, stating that the meeting between Biden and Starmer “must deliver one outcome: Ukraine must be able to strike with Storm Shadows inside Russia if Moscow continues to launch attacks from these sites.”Storm shadow missile decision linked to U.S. technologyThe use of Storm Shadow missiles depends partly on U.S. technology, which makes Bidens approval critical. While theres diplomatic alignment between the two countries, two U.K. government officials, speaking anonymously, noted that they were cautious about giving any impression of a policy divergence between London and Washington. They also expressed skepticism about whether Storm Shadow missiles would significantly alter the trajectory of the war, despite Zelenskyys assertion that deploying them could “truly change the course of the war.”Strategic talks continue on all frontsOn Friday, Starmer also held talks with defense and aerospace industry representatives at the British Embassy in Washington. According to a No. 10 spokesperson, however, these discussions were unrelated to the Storm Shadow issue. The meeting with Biden was followed by a 90-minute session with senior officials, including Foreign Secretary David Lammy, National Security Adviser Tim Barrow, U.K. Ambassador Karen Pierce, and Starmers key staff members.As the meeting began, Starmer reiterated the importance of supporting Ukraine, stating, “The next few weeks and months could be critical. Its incredibly important that we stand with Ukraine in this vital fight for freedom.”Starmer has been seeking a broader strategic meeting with Biden since their brief encounter at Julys NATO summit, shortly after taking office. He had also hoped to meet with the current U.S. presidential candidates during his Washington visit, but both were out of town for campaign events. Starmer has previously spoken to Donald Trump once, following an assassination attempt, but has not yet spoken to Trumps rival in Novembers race, Vice President Kamala Harris.
