
Britain is expected to supply Storm Shadow missiles for use by Ukraine on targets in Russia now that the US president, Joe Biden, has agreed to do the same for the similar American long-range Atacms weapon.
Keir Starmer said at the G20 summit that the UK recognised it needed to "double down" on its support for Ukraine, while diplomatic sources briefed they expected other European countries to follow the US lead.
The prime minister said that while he was "not going to get into operational details" he recognised the need to do more to help Ukraine, whose electricity network was seriously damaged by a wave of Russian bombing on Sunday.
"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," Starmer said.
Russia, however, accused the west of escalation and said that Biden risked adding "fuel to the fire" in Ukraine. While the president-elect, Donald Trump, remained silent on the issue, his son Donald Jr accused the military industrial complex of wanting to get "world war three going".
Storm Shadow missiles have a range of about 150 miles, similar to the Atacms, and have in the past been given to Kyiv by the UK and France to strike targets within Ukraine's internationally recognised borders.
But the US retained an effective veto on their use because it supplies a guidance system. Repeated lobbying by the UK had failed to shift the US position, which began to soften only after the election victory of Trump.
Ukraine wants to be able to strike barracks, fuel and logistics hubs, and airbases deeper inside Russia to blunt Moscow's relentless attacks on their country. Russia, by contrast, is able to strike targets anywhere in Ukraine.
This story is from the November 19, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the November 19, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In

Child deaths surge amid 'Gazafication' of West Bank, says human rights group
Israel has brought the military tactics of its war in Gaza to the occupied West Bank, where Palestinians face mass forced displacements, a surge in airstrikes and a sharp rise in attacks on children and other civilians, a Palestinian-Israeli human rights group has said.
Ten Hag and Ashworth were errors. I apologise for that
Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho would represent 100% profit under profitability and sustainability rules. But Ratcliffe denied they and other academy players would be sold to generate funds. \"No. We won't be selling players because of the state we are in financially.\"

Only our best will be enough to beat PSG, warns Slot
Arne Slot believes Liverpool must produce their best performance of the season to finish off \"a complete\" Paris Saint-Germain team that gave him sleepless nights after the Champions League encounter last week.

Number of jobless 'indefensible', says PM amid criticism over cuts
Britain's benefits system is the \"worst of all worlds\", with the numbers out of work or training \"indefensible and unfair\", the prime minister has said as he prepares for deep cuts to disability payments.
Eriksen: United under 'massive' pressure to win
Christian Eriksen has admitted that there is \"massive pressure\" on Manchester United to beat Real Sociedad on Thursday and keep alive their hopes of playing European football next season.

Brighterdaysahead could light up Champion Hurdle
Constitution Hill has seen off every challenge with ease in winning all 10 of his races to date, but he could be facing his sternest opponent so far in the Champion Hurdle today and Brighterdaysahead (4.00) can also boast the strongest recent piece of form in the field.

Smart, smooth, calm in a crisis What can the world expect from Canada's new PM?
Smart, smooth, tough and a liberal globalist to the ends of his fingertips. That was how Mark Carney came across in his near seven-year stint as governor of the Bank of England.

Kursk region Russian forces speed up counteroffensive
Russian forces are trying to cross the border and gain a foothold in Ukraine's Sumy province as they press ahead with a counteroffensive aiming to eliminate the last of Kyiv's positions in the Russian Kursk region.

'I'd never seen someone coach that way. Mikel was the one. He inspired me'
Jack Wilshere talks role models, marathon running and Arsenal as he revels in his new role as a budding coach

'We were kids and it was out of our control. But we got on with it'
The big interview Harry Skelton Jockey and brother of likely champion trainer Dan talks about past trauma, his hopes for Cheltenham and dealing with high expectations