The US and UK are 'close' to granting Ukraine permission to strike deep into Russia

The joint visit of the US and UK foreign ministers to Kyiv has strengthened the possibility that the two countries will soon allow Ukraine to use their weapons to attack deep within Russian territory, a permission that Ukraine has insisted on for months. The British newspaper The Guardian, citing its sources in the UK government, reported that the decision to grant Ukraine permission to use Western cruise missiles against targets deep in Russia had already been made in Britain, and otherwise, the joint visit of the US and UK foreign ministers to Kyiv would not have taken place. Antony Blinken, on Wednesday, September 12, following a meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, stated that Washington has been willing to adjust its policy in line with changes on the battlefield in Ukraine since day one. According to The Guardian, this is the 'strongest indication' of the imminent approval by the White House to lift restrictions on Ukraine's use of long-range weapons to strike key military targets deep in Russian territory. The US Secretary of State noted that Iran's provision of ballistic missiles to Russia, which has been confirmed by the US and the EU in recent days, has been a 'significant and dangerous escalation' of events and has 'changed strategic thinking in London and Washington.' Since February 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine and Western military aid began pouring into Ukraine, Western countries, especially the US, UK, and Germany, have always provided their weapons to Zelensky's government on the condition of use for defense, not for attacking key facilities in Russian territory, out of fear of escalating the war and direct confrontation with Moscow. Mr. Blinken, who traveled to Kyiv with his British counterpart David Lammy, added that the two would report the discussions they had with Volodymyr Zelensky to Joe Biden, the US President, and Keir Starmer, the UK Prime Minister, upon their return to Washington and London. Zelensky has explicitly expressed his dissatisfaction since this spring that the US's refusal to allow Ukraine to use long-range equipment to strike deep into Russia has 'cost human lives' and that the US must 'show more trust in Ukraine' because 'Russia understands nothing but the language of force.' The British Foreign Secretary, while in Kyiv, stated that he would not disclose the details of the negotiations so that Russia could not exploit them to its advantage on the battlefield, but condemned Russia's 'evil' invasion of Ukraine and said Vladimir Putin has become 'arrogant and greedy.' David Lammy also emphasized that Russia's attacks on Ukrainian civilians have been 'horrific, brutal, and unbelievable.' The British Foreign Secretary, while announcing a new military aid package of $782 million to Ukraine, also stated that not only Ukraine's freedom but also the security of Europe and the West is 'at risk.' Antony Blinken also announced in Kyiv the provision of a new $700 million 'humanitarian aid' package from the US to Ukraine, including for strengthening Ukraine's energy network ahead of the winter season. After a meeting he had in London with his British counterpart on Tuesday, where he confirmed for the first time reports of Iranian missiles being sent to Russia, he arrived in Ukraine with David Lammy on an overnight train from Poland for a 24-hour visit to Kyiv. The Guardian also reported that granting the requested permission to Ukraine would be a topic of discussion during Joe Biden's meeting with Keir Starmer on Friday at the White House. Joe Biden himself stated on Tuesday that his administration would act to lift the ban on Ukraine's use of long-range weapons. Andriy Yermak, the head of Volodymyr Zelensky's office, emphasized this week after Kyiv and several other cities were targeted by dozens of Russian attack drones that his country must be able to use the equipment received from the West to strike Russian military missile depots. He did not explicitly mention Iran as the source of ballistic missiles being transferred to Russia. Ukraine is eager to use American long-range 'ATACMS' missiles and British 'Storm Shadow' missiles to strike deep into Russia. After the Wall Street Journal and the Associated Press reported last week that Tehran had provided 200 ballistic missiles, including 'Fateh 360,' to Russia, the US and the EU confirmed this. However, Dmitry Peskov, the spokesperson for the Russian presidency, and Abbas Araghchi, the Iranian Foreign Minister, separately denied this on social media on Wednesday. Meanwhile, concurrently with the joint visit of the US and UK foreign ministers to Kyiv, the British Foreign Office summoned Ali Matinfar, the charge d'affaires of the Iranian embassy in London, on Wednesday, September 12, to protest to Iran. The UK also sanctioned several key individuals and organizations linked to the Islamic Republic of Iran this week due to their involvement in Iran's military support for Russia. The US Treasury also announced on Tuesday sanctions against 20 Iranian and Russian individuals and entities, as well as four Russian ships involved in the transfer of 'lethal aid to Russia.'