 "French President Emmanuel Macron, right, and Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer look on upon their arrival on the Place de l'Etoile to attend commemorations marking the 106th anniversary of the November 11, 1918, Armistice, ending World War I, in Paris, Monday, Nov. 11, 2024. (Photo via AP)")
After US President Joe Biden, British and French leaders are expected to allow Ukraine to use Storm Shadow missiles for strikes inside Russia, according to reports.
The Storm Shadow missile is jointly produced by the United Kingdom and France with critical equipment guidance systems supplied by the United States.
After Biden authorised Ukraine to use ATACMS long-range missiles for strikes inside Russia , he is also expected to allow the UK and France to permit Ukraine to use Storm Shadow missiles for similar strikes, according to the British press.
As Storm Shadow uses US guidance systems, Biden’s go-ahead is required for UK and France to allow Ukraine to use the missile for strikes inside Russia.
UK & France indicate allowing Ukraine to use Storm Shadow
After Biden allowed Ukraine to use ATACMS inside Russia, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is expected to allow Ukraine to use Storm Shadow missiles for similar purpose as well, according to Guardian.
Speaking on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Brazil, Starmer said that the UK recognises the need to “double down” on its support for Ukraine.
Starmer said that while he was “not going to get into operational details”, he recognised the need to do more to help Ukraine, according to the newspaper.
“I’ve been really clear for a long time now, we need to double down. We need to make sure Ukraine has what is necessary for as long as necessary, because we cannot allow Putin to win this war,” said Starmer.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsSo far, Ukraine can only use Storm Shadow within its own border in areas occupied by Russia.
Similarly, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said President Emmanuel Macron had already said he was open to approving the missile’s use inside Russia.
“We openly said that this was an option that we would consider if it was to allow Ukraine to strike targets from where Russians are currently aggressing Ukrainian territory,” said Barrot.
Similarly, British Defence Minister John Healey repeated the need to “double down” on support to Ukraine.
“I will not compromise operational security and comment on long-range systems today. The prime minister has made clear, as I do to the House today, that we must double down on the support for Ukraine,” said Healey in the British parliament in the clearest sign yet that a decision is expected soon.
How Biden changed his mind?
After allowing Ukraine to strike inside Russia with ATACMS, Biden is expected to approve similar strikes with Storm Shadow missiles in Russia’s Kursk province, according to Telegraph.
While Biden had refused to allow such strikes for months, Russia roping in North Korean soldiers in the war changed Biden’s mind, as per the newspaper.
Biden considers the inclusion of North Korean soldiers in Russia’s war-efforts in Kursk against Ukraine as an escalation that necessitates such strikes, as per the newspaper.
As the decision around Storm Shadow missiles appears to be imminent, the newspaper further reported that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is also coming under pressure to issue similar permissions for German Taurus missiles supplied to Ukraine.
Separately, The Guardian has reported sources as saying that European countries are expected to follow suit after Biden’s permission to Ukraine for ATACMS.