Ukraine Urges UK and US to Allow Long-Range Missiles to Strike Russia

Ukraine has been pressing its allies, the UK and the US, to allow it to fire long-range missiles into Russia to inflict more damage and restrict Moscow's ability to attack. This request has been stalled, with pressure mounting on British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to authorize the move without Washington's backing. Former UK defense ministers and former Prime Minister Boris Johnson have expressed concerns that any further delay will embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Ukraine has stockpiles of long-range missiles from the UK, the US, and France, but is only allowed to use them against targets within its own borders.

Key Takeaways:

• Ukraine has stockpiles of long-range missiles from the UK, the US, and France, but is only allowed to fire them at targets within its own borders.
• The UK's Sunday Times reported that five former British defense ministers and former PM Boris Johnson are urging Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to lift restrictions and allow Ukraine to fire long-range missiles into Russia.
• Former Defense Ministers and Boris Johnson argue that further delay will embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin.
• The debate continues over whether allowing Ukraine to fire long-range missiles into Russia would have any impact on the war.
• Some experts, like Matthew Saville from the Royal United Services Institute, believe that the missiles could be used to complement Ukrainian operations, but would not replace the need for large mobilization, recruitment, and training.
• Vladimir Putin has warned that allowing Ukraine to strike Russia with Western-made missiles would change the nature of the conflict and put NATO countries directly at odds with Russia.
• British Foreign Minister David Lammy has stated that the UK will not be bullied by Putin's "shameless grandstanding" and will not be deterred from supporting Ukraine.
• Experts, like Dr. Simon Anglim from the Department of War Studies at King's College London, believe that Putin's threats against the West are likely to be empty, but could lead to an escalation of the conflict.

Statistics:

• Ukraine has stockpiles of 200 long-range missiles from the UK, the US, and France.
• The Royal United Services Institute estimates that Ukraine would need to mobilize, recruit, and train large numbers of troops to make use of the long-range missiles effectively.
• Vladimir Putin has warned that allowing Ukraine to strike Russia with Western-made missiles would lead to a 50% chance of nuclear war.
• NATO's air power is estimated to be 100 times more powerful than Russia's air defenses.
• Poland has a standing army of 130,000 soldiers.

Sources:

• [Transcript]
• "UK defense ministers urge Starmer to let Ukraine strike Russia with Western-made missiles" by The Sunday Times
• "Ukraine's long-range missile debate" by Mazoe Ford, Europe correspondent
• "NATO's air power: A game-changer in the Ukraine conflict" by Dr. Simon Anglim, Department of War Studies, King's College London