Starmer silent on Ukraine’s deployment of UK’s storm shadow missiles
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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday said he would not "get into operational details" after US President Joe Biden gave Ukraine permission to use Western-supplied long-range missiles against Russia.
Speaking to broadcasters at the G20 in Brazil, Starmer refused to be drawn "because the only winner, if we were to do that, is (Russian President Vladimir) Putin".
Kyiv has long sought authorisation from Washington to use the powerful Army Tactical Missile System, or ATACMS, to hit military installations inside Russia as its troops come under growing pressure.
Until now, however, the United States has resisted Kyiv's calls.
A US official earlier confirmed the major policy shift to AFP, saying it was in response to Russia's deployment of thousands of North Korean troops to aid its war effort.
Britain, which has provided Ukraine with Storm Shadow long-range missiles, has consistently pushed to ease restrictions on Kyiv's use of the weapons.
Putin had previously warned that giving Ukraine the green light to use long-range weapons would mean NATO was "at war" with Moscow.
In parliament in London, lawmaker Roger Gale asked if the UK planned to "align with the United States" in granting Kyiv permission to use the UK-supplied missiles "as it sees fit in its own defence".
Junior defence minister Maria Eagle responded that the government intended to "align with our allies" on how Ukraine "can make use of the capabilities that's been offered" by its backers.
Ukraine says strikes in Russia will help it prevent aerial bombardments that have levelled entire districts of towns near the front line and decimated energy facilities across the country.
Starmer added: "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," he said.
Asked if he had spoken to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at the G20, he said: "I haven't spoken to Russia and I've got no plans to do so."