Starmer's Response to Putin's Threat Regarding the Consequences of NATO's 'Entry into War' with Russia

Two days after the joint visit of the foreign ministers of the United States and Britain to Kyiv to 'hear' Ukraine's security needs, the British Prime Minister, while on his way to Washington to negotiate with the U.S. President over the Russia-Ukraine war, stated that Vladimir Putin started the war with Ukraine and he himself could end it at any time. At the same time, following the Russian President's warning to the West about granting permission to use advanced weapons made by them to Kyiv for attacks deep into Russian territory, the head of the Duma, the parliament in Moscow, also stated that NATO has already become a party in military operations against Russia. Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that any Western action to grant Kyiv permission to use long-range weapons against targets in Russian territory means that NATO will effectively be 'at war' with Moscow. The visit of Antony Blinken and David Lammy, the foreign ministers of the U.S. and Britain, to Kyiv on Wednesday this week was interpreted as a sign that Washington and London are 'close' to agreeing to grant Ukraine permission to use weapons received from them for attacks deep into Russian territory. The Guardian reported on September 13 that the joint visit of the U.S. and British foreign ministers to Kyiv was evidence that the two countries, with the support of other allies, had already made a decision to grant such permission to Ukraine, which is expected to be announced during Keir Starmer's negotiations with Joe Biden at the White House on Friday, September 15. Vladimir Putin emphasized on Thursday that granting permission to Ukraine would significantly change the nature of the conflict, and Russia would make appropriate decisions in response to the threats it would face. However, Keir Starmer, on his flight to Washington, said that Russia started this conflict and illegally attacked Ukraine, and it could end it immediately. He added that Ukraine has the right to defend itself. The British Prime Minister further stated that his country has provided Ukraine with 'training and capabilities' to counter the Russian invasion. Mr. Starmer mentioned that his negotiations with Joe Biden are to ensure that 'all decisions we (the allies) make are within the framework of strategic objectives.' According to him, given the 'really important' developments that Ukraine and the Middle East will face in the coming weeks and months, a number of tactical decisions must also be made. A three-hour meeting for Biden and Starmer is scheduled for Friday at the White House, but apparently, there will not be a press conference following this meeting. David Lammy and several other key officials from Mr. Starmer's government will be present at the summit of the two countries. Mr. Lammy himself, a day after the trip to Kyiv, told the Daily Telegraph in London that Britain and the U.S. must provide the necessary weapons to defeat Russia to Ukraine. Poland, a close ally of Kyiv, also called during Antony Blinken's visit to Warsaw on Thursday for Ukraine to be able to use Western long-range weapons for military operations deep into Russian territory. According to The Guardian, the two countries have told Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, that any use of British 'Storm Shadow' missiles by his army must be part of a broader plan in the war campaign aimed at bringing Russia to an end, a war that will begin its third year this winter. However, the British Prime Minister stated that his country has no intention of 'imposing a peace agreement on Ukraine,' and this is a discussion that the President of Ukraine must lead. On the other hand, Vyacheslav Volodin, the head of the Duma, the lower house in Moscow, said on Friday that NATO, which has already had a significant intervention in decision-making related to Ukraine, is turning itself into a party to the war with Russia following this week's developments. According to Mr. Volodin, NATO is helping Ukraine choose Russian cities to target, has agreed to specific military actions, and has 'instructed' Kyiv. Russia's anger towards the West over the strengthening of Ukraine's military capabilities against Russia comes as this week the U.S., Britain, and the European Union confirmed multiple Western media reports indicating the beginning of the transfer of 200 ballistic missiles from the Islamic Republic of Iran to Russia for use in the war against Ukraine. Until now, Tehran had only been accused of supplying Russia with suicide drones that Russia has extensively used to attack Ukraine's infrastructure over the past two and a half years. Tehran and Moscow denied this week's reports from Western governments, but Washington, London, Paris, and Berlin have recently imposed new punitive measures against Iran, including sanctions on the Iranian passenger airline Iran Air.