Ukraine is seeking permission from Britain to use long-range Storm Shadow missiles against targets deep inside Russia, a strategy that could force Moscow to begin negotiations to end the conflict, The Guardian reports, citing senior Ukrainian officials.
One of the sources said Russia would agree to negotiations only if it recognized that Ukraine could “threaten Moscow and St. Petersburg.”
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Using Storm Shadow to strike deep into Russian territory would show the Kremlin that military facilities near the Russian capital are at risk of direct attack, the release added.
However, this strategy carries risks and is not yet supported by the USA. Although the Storm Shadow missiles were developed as part of a British-French cooperation, some components come from the USA, so their use in Ukraine must also be approved by the White House. However, the White House has so far refused to do so for fear of an escalation of the conflict.
Kyiv has been trying unsuccessfully for months to obtain authorization to use Storm Shadow against targets in Russia. But given the growing challenges on the Eastern Front, the belief that a counterattack is the best option is gaining ground.
On August 12, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attempted to obtain Western approval to use long-range weapons to attack Russian territory amid a Ukrainian offensive in the Kursk region.
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On the same day, The Telegraph reported, citing a representative of the British Prime Minister’s office, that Kyiv had not received permission from London to use long-range Storm Shadow missiles to attack Russia.
