As Putin warns of war with Nato, Starmer to meet Biden to discuss long-range strikes against Russia

Amid Russian warning of a war with the Nato, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will meet US President Joe Biden on Friday to discuss the issue of long-range weapons to Ukraine.

As Ukraine has been pressing the United States for permission for using Western long-range weapons to strike deeper inside Russia, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said that such strikes would put Russia at war with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato).

For months now, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been urging the United States to grant permission to use British-French Storm Shadow and American MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) for deeper strikes inside Russia. While the European governments have been okay with such demands, including the British, Biden has not approved such usage over concerns of an escalation.

Zelenskyy’s argument for seeking such a permission is that since Russia carries out deeper strikes inside Ukraine all the time, Ukraine should also have such a capacity to have playing field in the war. He has also been seeking Western help in shooting down Russian missiles that have been killing Ukrainians across the countries in frequent strikes.

Biden may seek middle ground on long-range weapons

There are signs that Biden may be open to allow Western weapons to be used deep inside Russia — as Russia continues to batter Ukraine.

The New York Times has reported that Biden is on the verge of approving deeper strikes inside Russia from weapons provided by European countries — such as the British-French Storm Shadow missiles. The newspaper added that he will, however, not allow US missiles to be used in similar strikes.

The British government has long said that it is okay with Ukraine using Storm Shadow missiles deep inside Russia.

As of now, the United States allows Russia to use US-provided long-range weapons in Ukrainian territory occupied by Russian, but not in Russia proper.

Starmer’s visit to Washington DC comes within days of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British Foreign Secretary meeting in London and then visiting Kyiv together to hold deliberations with top Ukrainian leaders.

West being ’too afraid’: Zelenskyy

As Starmer is set to hold talks with Biden, Zelenskyy said the West was being “too afraid” to help Ukraine defend against Russian attacks.

Zelenskyy on Friday said that he will meet Biden “this month” to present his “victory plan” on how to end the war with Russia, according to AFP.

Zelenskyy also compared the situation in Ukraine with that of Israel and said that while the Western nations were coming together to help Israel against Iran and its proxies by shooting down Iranian missiles and drones, they were being too afraid regarding Russia.

On the question of Western permission for deeper strikes inside Russia, Putin on Thursday said that would mean a war between Russia and Nato.

“This would in a significant way change the very nature of the conflict. It would mean that NATO countries, the US, European countries, are at war with Russia,” said Putin, as per AFP.