Tensions remain high over the potential use of long-range missiles in Russia as UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Joe Biden met on Friday. While Ukraine has been assured of support, no new pledges were made regarding the use of long-range missiles within Russian territory. During a press conference following the meeting, Starmer did not indicate any decision on allowing Ukraine to utilize such weapons. When asked about persuading Biden to allow the use of Storm Shadow missiles in Russia, Starmer stated that they had a “long and productive discussion on a number of fronts, including Ukraine, as you would expect, the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific.”
Meanwhile, the White House expressed “deep concern about Iran and North Korea’s provision of lethal weapons to Russia” but did not clarify if this issue was discussed during the meeting. The use of long-range missiles within Russian territory has become a major point of contention, with Russian President Vladimir Putin warning that such action would drag NATO into the war. Putin asserted that it would represent NATO’s “direct participation” in the Ukraine war. Following the meeting, it remains clear that the US and UK have not yet given Ukraine permission to use long-range missiles inside Russia. Many believe the West is hesitant due to fears of escalating the conflict.
Biden dismissed Putin’s threats of escalation during the meeting. The POTUS stated that he did not accept the notion that Ukraine using Western-made Storm Shadow missiles to target Russia would equate to NATO going to war with Moscow. Addressing the foreign policy summit on Friday afternoon, Biden said: “I do not think much about Vladimir Putin.”
The talks between Biden and Starmer, along with their foreign policy teams, took place in the Blue Room of the White House. The meeting included US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy. Other British participants included Tim Barrow, the national security adviser, and Starmer’s chief of staff, Sue Gray. Notably, neither Vice President Kamala Harris nor President Donald Trump were present in the capital to meet Starmer, as they were both campaigning in key swing states.
The meeting between Biden and Starmer occurred amidst Russia revoking the accreditation of six British diplomats in Moscow on accusations of espionage. On Friday, Moscow’s FSB domestic spy agency accused the British foreign office of helping coordinate what they termed “the escalation of the political and military situation” in Ukraine. The UK refuted these allegations, calling them baseless. A British foreign office spokesperson told reporters, “The accusations made today by the FSB against our staff are completely baseless… We are unapologetic about protecting our national interests.”
