British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is leaving Washington without a final decision on Ukraine’s request to use long-range Storm Shadow missiles against Russia, following discussions with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House on Friday.
The leaders addressed Ukraine’s call for advanced weaponry to strike deeper into Russian territory, but no agreement was reached, leaving many hoping for a breakthrough disappointed.
U.S. national security spokesperson John Kirby confirmed that no decision on long-range missiles would be made at this time.
After the talks, Starmer hinted that progress had been made but acknowledged the lack of an immediate outcome.
"Today was about having a chance to talk not just about a particular step or tactic, but the strategy in relation to Ukraine," he said, adding that both sides had reached a "strong position" on the issue.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed frustration over the restrictions on Western weaponry, arguing that long-range missile capabilities are crucial to pressuring Russia into negotiations.
Russia, meanwhile, has issued a strongly-worded warning, with President Vladimir Putin saying ahead of the Washington meeting that allowing Ukraine to strike Russia with long-range Western weapons will trigger direct conflict with NATO.
However, U.S. military officials remain skeptical that providing Ukraine with long-range missiles would significantly alter the course of the conflict, arguing that while these weapons would improve Ukraine’s capabilities, they are costly and limited in supply, making them unlikely to be a game changer.
