The UK wants to let Ukraine use its Storm Shadow missiles on Russian soil, but isn’t giving Kyiv permission out of concern that the US won’t back the call, according to multiple reports.
The Telegraph and the Financial Times reported Tuesday that London officials have privately been asking the US for the go-ahead this summer.
Both The Telegraph and FT reported that the US has some say in the decision because Ukraine’s Storm Shadow strikes likely rely on American capabilities.
The FT, citing an anonymous source familiar with the discussions, wrote that the missiles need US intelligence and reconnaissance to circumvent Russian GPS jamming.
The Telegraph mentioned that the missiles work in tandem with unnamed “classified US systems.”
The new deliberations also come as the UK’s Labour Party in June replaced the Tory government, which was aggressively at the forefront of pushing the West for more advanced vehicles, munitions, and aircraft to Ukraine.
But UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is, according to The Telegraph, choosing a more “consultative approach” with the US, which has often trailed its European allies in providing Ukraine with more powerful weapons.
US officials have long cited concerns of escalation with Russia when it comes to delivering devastating and long-range munitions to Kyiv.
The Pentagon and British and Ukrainian defense ministries did not immediately respond to requests for comment sent outside regular business hours by Business Insider.
Storm Shadow missiles, which are air-launched and have a range of about 155 miles, have been touted as one of Ukraine’s most effective tools in the war.
“Its accuracy and ability to deliver successfully the payload, as sent and designed by the Ukrainians, has been almost without fault,” said then-UK Defense Minister Ben Wallace in June.
Russia, meanwhile, has been playing down its impact on the battlefield, with leader Vladimir Putin saying the missile isn’t inflicting “critical” damage.
The UK allowed Ukraine to hit Russian ships and naval facilities in Crimea with Storm Shadow missiles in 2023, marking one of the first major Western endorsements of deep strikes.
Washington later sent Kyiv its long-range ATACMS missiles, but has so far restricted Ukraine from firing its advanced weapons into Russian territory.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the US and UK this week to lift the ban, saying it’s become a severe handicap as Russia rains drones and bombs on Ukraine.
“The United States, the United Kingdom, France, and other partners have the power to help us stop terror. We need decisions,” he said.
France, which also delivers Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine, has been supportive of allowing Kyiv to strike deep into Russia.
“We are in fact telling them that we are delivering weapons to you, but you cannot defend yourself,” French President Emmanuel Macron said in May, criticizing the situation.
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