The Russian dictator said allowing Ukraine to use missiles that could strike targets deep inside Kremlin territory would mean “NATO countries, the US, European countries, are at war with Russia”
Keir Starmer hit back at Putin’s chilling warning NATO countries would be at war with Russia if they allow Ukraine to use long-range missiles.
The Russian dictator said allowing Kyiv to use missiles that could strike targets within the Kremlin’s territory would change the “nature of the conflict”.
“It would mean NATO countries, the US, European countries, are at war with Russia,” Putin told a state TV reporter on Thursday.
But as Mr Starmer jetted to Washington on Thursday night for meetings with President Joe Biden, he told reporters: “Russia started this conflict. Russia illegally invaded Ukraine. Russia could end this conflict straight away.”
Mr Starmer added: “Ukraine has the right to self defence and we’ll obviously be absolutely, fully supportive of Ukraine’s right to self defence – providing training capability as you know. We don’t seek any conflict with Russia, that’s not our intention in the slightest. But they started this conflict and Ukraine’s got a right to self defence.”
NATO was created by the United States, Canada, and several Western European nations to provide collective security against the Soviet Union. NATO’s 30 countries, which include the UK, have a mutual defence pact.
The PM’s comments came as he prepared to meet Mr Biden in the Oval Office on Friday amid mounting speculation restrictions on Ukraine using long-range Storm Shadow missiles to strike targets inside Russia could be lifted. Ukraine’s wartime leader President Zelensky has been pleading with western allies in recent months to ease the rules as he combats Putin’s bloody invasion.
Britain has already supplied the missiles, which have a maximum range of 190miles, but under current rules Ukraine is only able to fire at Russian forces inside its own borders.
Mr Starmer refused to comment on any easing of restrictions on Thursday night. The PM said he would not go into discussions about “particular capabilities”.
Ahead of his meetings, he added: “We are key allies with the U.S., and very, very closely aligned, particularly on issues like Ukraine and the Middle East. There are really important developments likely in the next few weeks and months, both in Ukraine and the Middle East, and therefore a number of tactical decisions ought to be taken.”
Mr Starmer and the US President will also discuss the urgent need for a ceasefire in Gaza after the deaths of over 40,000 Palestinian civilians. No10 said the pair will also discuss how urgent progress can be made towards the release of Israeli hostages and to avoid a wider regional wall in the Middle East.
The PM will meet with President Biden in the Oval Office before meetings at the White House alongside Foreign Secretary David Lammy, UK ambassador to the US Dame Karen Pierce and National Security Advisor Tim Barrow.
