Donald Trump has cleared the way for Ukraine to use certain long-range missiles supplied by Western allies after a planned meeting with Vladimir Putin collapsed.
A key restriction on their use has been lifted, allowing Kyiv to strike deep inside Russia[1] and pile pressure on the Kremlin, US officials said on Wednesday.
Ukraine[2] fired British-made Storm Shadow cruise missiles on Tuesday at a chemical plant in Russia’s Bryansk region, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces[3] said on social media, calling it a “successful hit”.
Ukrainian forces said the Russian plant “produces gunpowder, explosives and rocket fuel components used in ammunition and missiles employed by the enemy to shell the territory of Ukraine”.
AFP via Getty Images)
The strike came after an unannounced US move shifted approval for such attacks from Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to America’s top general in Europe, General Alexus Grynkewich, who also serves as NATO commander, The Wall Street Journal[4] reported.
The attack using UK-made missiles happened on the same day that PM Keir Starmer[5] and other European leaders pledged to “ramp up the pressure on Russia’s economy and its defence industry” until Putin “is ready to make peace”.
AP)
It comes after planned talks between Donald Trump[6] and Vladimir Putin[7] in Budapest recently fell through, with Trump saying on Tuesday he did not want “to have a wasted meeting” with the Russian president.
Trump has been pushing Putin – whom he last met in Alaska in August – to hold talks to end the war since early October.
Just 10 days ago, aboard Air Force One on his way to Israel[8], Trump warned: “I might say, ’Look: if this war is not going to get settled, I’m going to send them (Ukraine) Tomahawks.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky[9] has been pressing Trump for stronger military support, especially US-made Tomahawk missiles, which have a range of 1,550 miles.
Getty Images)
But Trump has since backed off his proposal to supply Ukraine with Tomahawks, which would be seen by Moscow as a major provocation. Russia warned in September that if the US helped Ukraine launch Tomahawks, it could be seen as directly entering the war.
The Storm Shadow, a British-French cruise missile, can be launched from Ukrainian aircraft and travel over 180 miles. The US can restrict Ukraine’s use of the missile because it relies on American targeting data.
References
- ^ Russia (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ Ukraine (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ Armed Forces (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ The Wall Street Journal (www.wsj.com)
- ^ Keir Starmer (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ Donald Trump (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ Vladimir Putin (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ Israel (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ Volodymyr Zelensky (www.mirror.co.uk)