Kremlin vows response if UK allows Kyiv to strike Russia with missiles (2024)

Moscow issued a warning to new Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer today as Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there would be a response if the UK allowed Ukraine to strike Russia with British weapons.

The comments came after Sir Keir told reporters yesterday en route to Washington for NATO's 75th-anniversary summit that decisions on the use of UK-supplied long-range Storm Shadow missiles were for the Ukrainian armed forces to make.

Storm Shadow missiles, accurate to beyond 150 miles, have already been used by Ukraine to hit targets in Russian-occupied territory to great effect.

But Sir Keir said yesterday that UK military aid was 'for defensive purposes but it is for Ukraine to decide how to deploy it for those defensive purposes', indicating that Kyiv could now use the missiles to strike targets on Russian soil in the face of ongoing attacks.

Peskov said such a move would be an 'absolutely irresponsible step towards escalating tensions', adding the Kremlin would 'carefully record all of this and of course take appropriate measures'.

MailOnline has contacted the MoD for comment.

The thinly veiled threat from Vladimir Putin's spokesman came as Britain'sarmed forces minister said the Government will aim to complete its strategic defence review in less than a year, amid warnings from former military chiefs that Britain is unprepared for the threat of war.

Luke Pollard said Britain's armed forces had faced 14 years of 'hollowing out and underfunding' under the Conservatives, leading to 'reduced capabilities'.

A massive explosion at a port in Crimea is pictured late last year in what is thought to have been a Storm Shadow strike on a Russian Navy vessel

Storm Shadow missiles, accurate to beyond 150 miles, have already been used by Ukraine to hit targets in Russian-occupied territory to great effect.

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer talks to journalists as he travels onboard a plane to Washington DC to attend a Nato summit, Tuesday July 9, 2024

A Storm Shadow Cruise missile in display inside the R.A.F. Museum

Pollard went on to insist the new Labour administration would work 'at pace' to finish the major assessment, which Sir Keir has said needs to take place before decisions are made on raising defence spending to 2.5% of GDP - a target to which the PM has made a 'cast-iron commitment'.

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Appearing on Wednesday's morning broadcast round, Pollard said the Labour manifesto set out a timescale of a year and the Government wants to deliver the review 'faster than that because of the urgency of the situations we're facing'.

'The Prime Minister's been very clear, he wants this review delivered at pace,' he told Times Radio.

He said he had been 'reassured' by speaking to military officers that 'we have the ability to defend Britain' but told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'What we want to do is to make sure that we're filling the gaps to deter any future aggression and defeat it if necessary.

The review will be 'NATO-first' and focus on 'our unshakeable commitment to the North Atlantic, to the Europe area, to make sure that we're keeping not only the UK safe but keeping our allies safe,' he said.

The minister denied accusations that Labour had not done 'any homework' to determine which areas were most in need of funding before entering power.

On being told the party had 'not looked at what needed to be spent where' during an appearance on Sky News, he said: 'That's not true... You'll know that in opposition you don't get access to the classified briefings, the intelligence that would be required to set out what shape and size our armed forces should be.'

Sir Keir is facing pressure from opposition critics and former military chiefs over the timescale of decision-making on funding, with some arguing it cannot wait given the gravity of threats facing Britain.

Admiral Lord West, a former head of the Navy who was a security minister under a previous Labour government, claimed the new administration was 'delaying spending money' by not setting out a plan, which meant 'there is no money' for the Ministry of Defence.

The Tories, who said they would increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2030 before losing the election, said the approach was 'damaging for the armed forces'.

Storm Shadow missiles are seen attached to the hard points of a Eurofighter Typhoon

A Panavia Tornado jet is seen deploying a Storm Shadow missile

NATO leaders pose for a family photo before President Joe Biden, front row center, delivers remarks on the 75th anniversary of NATO at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium, Tuesday, July 9, 2024, in Washington

US President Joe Biden delivers remarks during the NATO's 75th Anniversary Commemoration event at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington DC., United States on July 09, 2024

Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at the Trump National Doral Golf Club on July 09, 2024 in Doral, Florida

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky answers questions after delivering remarks at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute as leaders from all member NATO states gather for the 75th NATO Summit on July 9, 2024 in Washington

Emergency workers respond at the Okhmatdyt children's hospital hit by Russian missiles, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, July 8, 2024

Rescue workers take part in a response effort to Russia's attack on the Ohmatdyt National Specialised Children's Hospital with a Kh-101 strategic cruise missile

Kicking off the three-day NATO 75th anniversary summit yesterday,US President Joe Biden announced a new air defence system for Kyiv and urged unity against Vladimir Putin, who launched the Ukraine invasion in 2022.

Biden promised to send Kyiv an additional Patriot system, on top of two new systems being given by Germany and Romania and one which the Netherlands has said it is putting together with parts from other allies.

Read More Sir Keir Starmer could boost the size of Britain's armed forces and renews vow to increase defence spending after warning Putin 'you will not succeed' in Ukraine war

Underscoring Ukraine's desperate need for such systems, Russia fired a barrage of missiles on the eve of the summit that killed dozens of people across the country, including in Kyiv where a children's hospital was reduced to debris.

'Make no mistake. Ukraine can - and will - stop Putin,' Biden said forcefully to applause.

But the US president himself is facing a tough election challenge from Donald Trump, who has loudly questioned the utility of NATO andpreviously said he would be able to 'end the war in 24 hours' if he were in charge.

The comments sparked fears that Washington would quickly withdraw its military support for Ukraine and seek to force Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to accept a peace deal that would see large swathes of territory ceded to Moscow.

Earlier this year,Trump's Republican allies in the US Congress also forced a delay of months in approving new weapons for Ukraine.

The notion is not lost on NATO leaders, with outgoing Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg acknowledging the question marks over ongoing US support.

'Ukraine has shown remarkable courage and NATO allies have provided unprecedented support. But let's be honest - not even our support for Ukraine has been a given,' Stoltenberg said.

'Remember - the biggest cost and the greatest risk will be if Russia wins in Ukraine. We cannot let that happen.'

Kremlin vows response if UK allows Kyiv to strike Russia with missiles (2024)

FAQs

Kremlin vows response if UK allows Kyiv to strike Russia with missiles? ›

Moscow issued a warning to new Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer today as Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there would be a response if the UK allowed Ukraine to strike Russia with British weapons.

What was the cause of the Russo Ukraine war? ›

Russian annexation of Crimea (2014)

In late February 2014, Russia began to occupy Crimea, marking the beginning of the Russo-Ukrainian War. On 22 and 23 February, in the relative power vacuum immediately after the ousting of Yanukovych, Russian troops and special forces were moved close to the border with Crimea.

Why is Russia at war with Ukraine? ›

Russia annexed Crimea in March 2014, after a widely disputed referendum. The war in Donbas began in April 2014 when armed Russian-backed separatists seized Ukrainian government buildings and proclaimed the independent Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic.

Why did Russia invade Ukraine in 2014? ›

Russian invasion of Crimea. The February 2014 revolution of Dignity that ousted Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych sparked a political crisis in Crimea, which initially manifested as demonstrations against the new interim Ukrainian government, but rapidly escalated.

Was Ukraine part of Russia? ›

Most of Ukraine fell to the Russian Empire under the reign of Catherine the Great; the Crimean Khanate was annexed by Russia in 1783, following the Emigration of Christians from Crimea in 1778, and in 1793 right-bank Ukraine was annexed by Russia in the Second Partition of Poland.

Why is Ukraine important to the United States? ›

U.S.-Ukraine Relations

The United States established diplomatic relations with Ukraine in 1991, following its independence from the Soviet Union. The United States attaches great importance to the success of Ukraine's transition to a modern democratic state with a flourishing market economy.

Why is Ukraine losing the war? ›

Western delays over sending aid mean the country is dangerously short of something even harder to supply than shells: the fighting spirit required to win. Morale among troops is grim, ground down by relentless bombardment, a lack of advanced weapons, and losses on the battlefield.

What is the reason for Russia attacking Ukraine? ›

A principal demand of Russia is to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO, a military alliance between 29 European countries and two North American countries dedicated to preserving peace and security in the North Atlantic area. Ukraine is one of just a few countries in Eastern Europe that aren't members of the alliance.

Why did Russia sell Alaska? ›

Defeat in the Crimean War further reduced Russian interest in this region. Russia offered to sell Alaska to the United States in 1859, believing the United States would off-set the designs of Russia's greatest rival in the Pacific, Great Britain.

What language is spoken in Ukraine? ›

The official language of Ukraine is Ukrainian, a Slavic language, which is spoken regularly by 88% of Ukraine's population at home in their personal life, and as high as 87% at work or study. It is followed by Russian which is spoken by 34% in their personal life.

Who gave Crimea to Ukraine? ›

In 1954, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union transferred the Crimean Oblast from the Russian SFSR to the Ukrainian SSR. The territory had been recognized within the Soviet Union as having "close ties" to the Ukrainian SSR, and the transfer commemorated the Union of Russia and Ukraine Tercentenary.

What does Putin want? ›

Left unsaid is what many observers considered Putin's real goal: the overthrow of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who he smeared as neo-Nazi, and the installation of a puppet regime.

Did Crimea want to be part of Russia? ›

Polling in 2008 by the Ukrainian Centre for Economic and Political Studies, also called the Razumkov Centre, found that a majority of Crimeans simultaneously approved the idea of joining Russia (63.8%), while also supporting the idea of remaining within Ukraine if Crimea was given greater autonomy (53.8%).

What was Ukraine called before 1922? ›

From the 18th century on, Ukraine became known in the Russian Empire by the geographic term Little Russia. In the 1830s, Mykola Kostomarov and his Brotherhood of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Kyiv started to use the name Ukrainians.

Is it safe to visit Kiev? ›

However, many foreign tourists continue to visit the capital of Ukraine. If you decide to come to Kyiv, please take safety precautions: follow the news, do not ignore air raid warnings, and follow the instructions of local authorities. With proper care and preparation, your trip can be safe and enjoyable.

When did Ukraine stop being called Ukraine? ›

However, since Ukraine's declaration of independence in 1991, this usage has become politicised and is now rarer, and style guides advise against its use.

When did the Russo-Ukrainian war begin? ›

What caused the Russian Revolution? ›

Economic hardship, food shortages and government corruption all contributed to disillusionment with Czar Nicholas II. During the Russian Revolution, the Bolsheviks, led by leftist revolutionary Vladimir Lenin, seized power and destroyed the tradition of czarist rule.

What are the effects of the Russia and Ukraine war? ›

Russia's attack on Ukraine placed a further squeeze on critical commodities – food and energy. This was the result of reduced output from both countries and sanctions on Russia. Costs climbed even further, triggering inflation rates that far outpace wage growth.

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