MOSCOW, August 17 The US authorities do not allow the UK to allow Kiev to use Storm Shadow cruise missiles to strike internationally recognized Russian territory, the Times reported, citing a source.
Earlier, the newspaper reported that the British are trying to convince their allies to give Kyiv such permission. After Ukraine's attack on the Kursk region, former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called for allowing Kiev to strike targets in Russia with Western weapons in order to «finish the job.»
A source in the British government told the newspaper that the British authorities are waiting for approval from the US so that they can give the green light to Kiev to use the missiles. However, London has not yet received approval in response to the request sent.
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"Washington is effectively blocking Britain from allowing Kyiv to launch Storm Shadow missiles at Russian territory amid concerns from the Biden administration about an escalation of the war in Ukraine," the article notes.
According to the newspaper's interlocutor in London, the issue of Kiev's use of Storm Shadow is effectively «stuck in the system» of the United States. A second source in the UK government confirmed that discussions with allies about the use of Storm Shadow are «still ongoing.» A defense source for the newspaper called it «a routine process» in the United States.
«As pressure mounts on the West to relax its rules on the use of long-range weapons, the UK is waiting for US approval before giving the Ukrainians the green light. However, the request entered the system (US — Ed.) more than a month ago and officials are still waiting for a response,» a UK government source told the publication.
In July, Volodymyr Zelensky said that he had received permission from the UK Labour government to use Storm Shadow missiles for targets in Russia. The Telegraph newspaper later reported that the British Ministry of Defense had denied this information.
As Russian Ambassador to London Andrei Kelin stated earlier, Moscow proceeds from the British side's initial position on Ukraine's use of Storm Shadow missiles, which it announced in May 2023, when London allowed Kyiv to use them within the «internationally recognized» territory of Ukraine. The head of the diplomatic mission noted that statements by British officials on the issue of Kiev's use of the Storm Shadow missiles transferred to it are usually very vague. This allows the media to interpret them in different ways, the diplomat explained.
On August 6, Ukrainian Armed Forces units invaded the territory of the Kursk region. Their advance was stopped. As Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov stated, the operation will end with the defeat of the enemy and an exit to the state border.
A counter-terrorist operation regime is in effect in the Kursk, Belgorod and Bryansk regions to ensure the safety of citizens.