Boris Pressures Starmer, Biden to Arm Ukraine with Long-Range Missiles

Boris Johnson has dramatically stepped into the Ukraine war debate, urging Keir Starmer and Joe Biden to allow Kyiv to deploy long-range missiles against Russia.

In a tense escalation, Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened NATO with war if it permits the use of such weapons against Russia. The former UK Prime Minister, fresh from a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv, called for restrictions on long-range missile use to be lifted "as fast as possible."

Johnson emphasized the urgency, stating that it was "vital for Ukraine to defend itself properly" against Russian glide bombs and Iranian missiles. He argued that Ukraine must be able to strike targets inside Russia, including with Storm Shadow missiles, adding: "Every day that passes means more pointless and tragic loss of Ukrainian lives."

In a thinly veiled criticism of other Western leaders, Zelensky tweeted his gratitude to Johnson, remarking: "Ukrainians always remember those who stand by them."

Earlier, Zelensky expressed his frustration after meetings with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, saying, "There should be no unanswered questions about why Ukraine needs long-range capabilities." He added, "It’s difficult to hear repeatedly, 'We are working on this,' while Putin continues to destroy our cities and villages."

Johnson’s intervention came just hours before Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was set to meet President Biden in Washington, D.C., for talks on the Ukraine conflict. Both leaders are reportedly close to allowing Kyiv to use Western-supplied Storm Shadow long-range missiles, potentially opening a new front in the war against Russia.

However, as Starmer and his delegation traveled to the U.S., Putin issued a warning, stating that such a move would mean Russia is "at war with NATO."

In response, a defiant Prime Minister Sunak told journalists on his flight, "Russia started this conflict, and they are acting unlawfully. Ukraine has the right to defend itself." He added, "We’ve been providing training and capability, and further discussions are needed on the nature of that support."

Sunak stressed the importance of placing tactical decisions in a "proper strategic context" regarding both Ukraine and broader global issues like the Middle East, ensuring that actions are guided by a comprehensive, long-term strategy.

Johnson, who built a strong relationship with Zelensky during his tenure, has continued to advocate for Western support of Ukraine. However, his recent visit to Kyiv was met with criticism from some, including senior military figures who accused him of seeking publicity in a warzone. Lord Dannatt, the former head of the British Army, described Johnson as a "loose cannon" and warned that his actions could undermine Prime Minister Sunak.

Meanwhile, tensions between the UK and Russia intensified after Moscow accused six British diplomats of spying and revoked their diplomatic accreditation. The FSB security service claimed to have detected "signs of spying and sabotage," prompting the Russian Foreign Ministry to expel the diplomats, who worked in the British Embassy's political department.

The UK Foreign Office rejected the allegations as "completely baseless," noting that the diplomats had already left Russia and were being replaced. A spokesperson reiterated that the UK remains "unapologetic about protecting our national interests," and criticized Russia for taking retaliatory steps following UK actions against Russian state-directed activities in Europe.