Starmer rebuffs Zelensky’s request to fire Storm Shadow missiles deep into Russia

Sir Keir Starmer has rebuffed Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky’s request to fire Storm Shadow missiles deeper into Russian territory.

Mr Zelensky urged the Prime Minister to “show your leadership” by removing limits on how the long-range missiles, gifted by the UK, can be used when he addressed the Cabinet on Friday.

It is understood that the UK and other allies allow Ukraine to fire long-range missiles defensively at targets on Russian soil near the border but not offensively or deep into Russian territory.

Sir Keir reiterated the existing position, declining to promise he would change the rules, when he met Mr Zelensky one-on-one before the Cabinet meeting, according to Downing Street insiders.

The exact agreement specifics about how the Storm Shadow missiles can be used by Ukraine as it fights against the Russian invasion are not published. UK government figures also do not discuss the details in public, which has at times caused confusion about London’s exact position.

Public comments made at Sir Keir’s trip to the Nato conference in Washington last week led to uncertainty about the stance.

Mr Zelensky became the first foreign leader to attend a meeting of the British Cabinet in person since 1997 on Friday when he spoke to Sir Keir’s top team.

The Ukrainian president urged the British Government to help with Kyiv’s “long-range capability”.

Mr Zelensky told the meeting: “We are still missing the main answer to this question. I ask you to show your leadership in this and please convince other partners to remove the limits.”

But speaking after the visit, Downing Street said there was “no change to our position” on weapons.

A Number 10 spokesman said: “We have been providing military aid to support Ukraine’s clear right to self-defence against Russia’s illegal acts in accordance with international humanitarian law. Equipment provided by the UK is intended for the defence of Ukraine.”

Earlier in the day the Defence Secretary had signalled the UK would allow Ukraine to use Storm Shadow missiles for defensive strikes against targets in Russia.

In an interview with BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, John Healey said the delivery of the missiles “does not preclude” Mr Zelensky from using them to hit targets inside Russia.

“We’re providing weapons to Ukraine for their defence of their sovereign country,” Mr Healey said.

“And that does not preclude them hitting targets in Russia. But that must be done by the Ukrainians, it must be done within the parameters and the bounds of international humanitarian law.”

Asked whether Mr Zelensky can hit where Russian missiles are coming from, the Cabinet minister said “these are complex questions” and insisted he would not “discuss the details of those sorts of things in public”.

“We are continuing very intense discussions with the Ukrainians because we as a country want to do everything we can to support Ukraine’s effort to fight for their freedom.”

Officials have previously expressed that the use of Storm Shadow to hit targets inside Russia could draw the UK into a conflict with Russia.

Meanwhile, Sir Keir has hailed a “very special moment” as Mr Zelensky visited Downing Street for the first time under his premiership.

The Prime Minister greeted Mr Zelensky with a hug and a handshake outside No 10, before sitting down with him for bilateral talks and hosting him at a historic Cabinet session.

The president of Ukraine became the first foreign leader to address the meeting of senior UK ministers since Bill Clinton, when he was US president in 1997.

In the bilateral meeting, Sir Keir said the UK was “united in our Parliament” in supporting Kyiv for as long as possible.

The Prime Minister also said the visit was “a very special moment” and showed “the esteem you’re held in... in this country and around the world”, as he promised Britain’s “unshakeable” support.

Later on Friday, Mr Zelensky spoke on the phone with Donald Trump. He said on social media platform X that he had congratulated the former US president on securing the Republican nomination, condemned the assassination attempt on him and agreed to arrange a meeting in person.

Mr Trump said on Trump Social that he appreciated Mr Zelensky for contacting him because “I, as your next president of the United States, will bring peace to the world and end the war that has cost so many lives and devastated countless innocent families.”

He added: “Both sides will be able to come together and negotiate a deal that ends the violence and paves a path forward to prosperity.”