UKRAINE, Jul 12 — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who arrived in Washington for the NATO summit, had previously said that Ukraine could use British Storm Shadow missiles to strike military targets deep inside Russia. However, today, the UK denied this a day after the summit, The Telegraph reported, citing the UK Ministry of Defense.

Some European countries, such as France, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, the Netherlands, and others, have already authorized Ukraine to use their weapons against Russia, but America is still “hesitating.”

According to the UK Ministry of Defense, the UK government’s policy on using Storm Shadow missiles [precision-guided cruise missiles with a range of over 155 miles] has not changed. The Ukrainian Defense Forces can use them only on the mainland and the temporarily occupied Crimea.

“Britain has been forced to clarify it has not given permission for Ukraine to use Storm Shadows to strike inside Russia in an awkward diplomatic moment for Sir Keir Starmer,” The Telegraph reported.

Officials are concerned that such a move would escalate the war and could draw the UK into a conflict with Russia.

The journalists’ sources also explained that Zelenskyy would “seek assurances elsewhere” before the UK authorized the launch of missiles into Russian territory. 

They added that Ukraine has not yet used these weapons this year, and permission to strike depends not only on Britain but also on third countries, including France, which also produces the Storm Shadow missiles.

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  • The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported on June 12 that the Ukrainian forces targeted one S-300 air defense battery and two S-400 air defense batteries near occupied Belbek and Sevastopol in Crimea overnight.