Why is Ukraine seeking permission to shoot 'Storm Shadow' missiles?

Recently, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is excited after receiving the US-made fighter jet "F-16", is asking the US administration for permission to launch long-range missiles. He says that it is necessary to attack Russian targets across the border with the "Storm Shadow" missile.

After the meeting between Biden and Starmer, Zelensky hoped that Ukraine would get permission to launch the 'Storm Shadow' missile. However, for the time being, his hope has turned into disappointment. The 'Storm Shadow' missile can hit a distance of about 250 km. This means that with the help of the "Storm Shadow" missile, Ukraine can attack the military bases on the Russian mainland . Britain and France have used American materials in missiles built with the help of Italy. According to the BBC, the current cost of building the missile is one million US dollars.

After talks with Biden, Starmer said there was no decision on allowing Ukraine to use long-range missiles to hit targets inside Russia. Did you convince President Biden to allow Ukraine to launch a 'Storm Shadow' missile at Russia? Starmer gave a twisted answer to the question.

"As you expected, there was a long and fruitful discussion on the Middle East, Indo-Pacific and other fronts, including Ukraine," he said. However, he said that several significant events are likely to occur in both Ukraine and the Middle East in the coming weeks and months. Starmer says that various strategic decisions will have to be made during this period.

Fearing Putin's threats of a possible war with NATO, Starmer said that "the shortest way to end the war depends on Putin's actions". The BBC mentioned that there is another opportunity to discuss these issues at the United Nations General Assembly next week.

According to the US President's White House, both leaders have expressed "deep concern over Iran and North Korea's provision of deadly weapons to Russia". But both Starmer and Whitehouse did not make it clear that Ukraine was allowed to use the 'Storm Shadow' missile. _{Leaders including American President Jay Biden and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Photo: AP}

Before the meeting with Kier Starmer, President Biden said, 'I don't think much about Vladimir Putin.' He said no.

There has been a long-standing dispute over allowing Ukraine to launch Western-made missiles at Russia. If such a decision was taken, it was estimated that Russia would be more aggressive and the US and European countries could also be directly drawn into the war. But after Russia tries to get more help from Iran and also tries to increase relations with North Korea, there is a sign that some changes are coming in the policy of the western country.

Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Soigu has met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. North Korean state media KCNA reported that Soigu and Kim, who are visiting Pyongyang, agreed to further strengthen the strategic relationship between the two countries. "The two leaders had a wide exchange of views on the regional and international situation and agreed to cooperate for the protection of mutual security interests," KCNA said.

America, Ukraine and some Western countries have been claiming that Kim is receiving financial and other military support from Moscow and in return is helping Russia to attack Ukraine by supplying rockets and missiles. Moscow and Pyongyang have denied the allegations.

Western countries have already provided Ukraine with 'Storm Shadow' missiles . In addition, Western countries have provided tanks, advanced missile systems and F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. In the latest attack, the Ukrainian army has used US-made 'F-16' jets. After a long wait, Ukraine received 10 F-16s on August 1. Ukraine has been saying that at least 130 such jets are needed to neutralize the Russian attack.

As Russia launched its offensive in 2022, Ukrainian President Zelensky asked Western nations for F-16 supersonic fighter jets. Soon after that, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway showed readiness to give some F-16 aircraft they had bought with the US. But US President Biden backed down, fearing that Russia would be angry if Ukraine was provided with advanced and powerful weapons.

The F-16, which has been in use since 1978, can carry bombs, rockets and missiles. It can launch air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles . It is said that the F-16, which can fly at twice the speed of sound and at an altitude of 3200 km, can shoot missiles and intercept enemy fighter planes.

On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Western nations not to allow Ukraine to launch long-range missiles against Russia. Putin gave such a warning before the discussion between President Biden and Prime Minister Starmer . _{British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is visiting America. Photo: AP}

In a report aired on Russian state television, Putin said that using those missiles against Russia would change the fundamental aspects of the conflict and mean that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is at war with Russia.

Ukraine's ability to use long-range weapons manufactured in Western countries means that NATO members America and European countries are participating in the "Russia-Ukraine war". "In such a situation, taking into account the risks created for us, we will take a decision accordingly," Russian President Putin said.

Putin claims that the Ukrainian army does not have the ability to use sophisticated, high-capacity and long-range weapons. "That is only possible with surveillance data from satellites that Ukraine does not have." They are only available from the European Union, US and NATO satellites.'

In the process, British Prime Minister Starmer said that "Russia has started a war on Ukraine and it is illegal". He says that Russia has caused the conflict and is still doing illegal things.

Britain's former Secretary of State for Defense Sir Ben Wallace has said that NATO should allow Ukraine to launch long-range missiles at Russia despite Putin's threats. Kurt Volker, the former US special representative for Ukraine negotiations, said that Putin's comments were made to stop Western activity. "Putin said to stop us from working," he said.

Britain has previously said that Ukraine has a clear right to use the weapons it has provided "for self-defense". But this does not include the use of long-range 'Storm Shadow' missiles in areas outside Ukraine's internationally recognized borders.

On Friday, Russia expelled six British diplomats accused of espionage. Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) issued a statement saying it had obtained documents showing Britain's involvement in "strategically defeating" Russia. Britain said the allegations were "completely unfounded".

In an interview with the BBC, British defense analyst Justin Crump said that Putin is testing the new Labor-led government and the outgoing Biden administration. "Russia has already supplied weapons to opponents of Ukraine and engaged in subversion, espionage, sabotage and information/cyber operations against the interests of NATO members," he claimed.

On Friday, the United States announced new sanctions against the Russian media channel RT, accusing it of being "the real arm of Russia's intelligence apparatus". US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has claimed that RT is part of a network of Russian-backed media outlets and is trying to undermine US democracy. In response, RT's editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan said that they are excellent teachers and many of RT's employees studied in America with US investment.

(with help from agencies)