PM faces pressure to follow US on Ukraine ‘escalation'

Joe Biden’s decision to let Ukraine strike targets inside Russia with US-made long-range missiles is an escalation” of the conflict, Moscow said yesterday, as it warned use of the weapons would trigger a tangible” response.

- ALASTAIR JAMIESON

The Kremlin reacted with fury after the US president eased limits on what targets Kyiv can strike using the American-made Army Tactical Missile System, or ATACMS.

“It is obvious that the outgoing administration in Washington intends to … continue pouring oil on the fire and provoking further escalation of tensions around this conflict,” Vladimir Putin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.

Mr Biden’s move – previously ruled out over fears of bringing about a direct confrontation between Russia and Nato – put fresh pressure on Britain to follow suit with UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles.

Sir Keir Starmer sidestepped questions on the issue last night but did not rule out a change, saying: “We need to double down ... to make sure Ukraine has what is necessary for as long as necessary because we cannot allow Putin to win this war.”