UKRAINE has still not been authorised to strike Russia with British Storm Shadow missiles, The Sun can reveal.
On Monday the White House was still blocking the use of the UK made firepower despite giving the greenlight for their own ATACMS to be used in limited strikes on Russian territory.
Last night Sir Keir Starmer insisted “we need to double down” as talks with the US and the French - who co-designed the weaponry - continued with a hopes of a breakthrough in the coming days.
But British efforts had yet to convince Joe Biden to give the go ahead for our donated weaponry which requires US tech for guidance.
Yesterday the Kremlin accused the US of "pouring oil on the fire" and risking World War 3 with Sunday's decision to allow their long range missiles to be used to strike Russian positions in the war-torn Kursk region.
And a number of allies of Donald Trump accused the outgoing President of escalating the war on the way out the door.
PM Sir Keir Starmer has been lobbying Biden for months at the behest of the Ukrainians to relax the block on Storm Shadows - with No10 repeatedly refusing to be drawn on Monday whether that goal had been reached.
But privately government figures admit that the American veto on Storm Shadows remains in place.
Quizzed at the G20 in Brazil whether he had been given the greenlight for Storm Shadows, the PM said: “Obviously, I’m not going to get into operational details, because the only winner, if we were to do that, is Putin, and I’m not prepared to do that.”
He added: “I’ve been really clear for a long time now we need to double down. We need to make sure Ukraine has what is necessary for as long as necessary, because we cannot allow Putin to win this war.”
But he insisted that Ukraine is “number one” on his agenda at the gathering of world leader in Rio de Janeiro.
Speaking to broadcasters, he said: “Tomorrow is day 1,000 of the conflict, that’s 1,000 days of aggression from Russia and 1000 days of sacrifice from Ukraine.
“So that is my clear message here. It’s number one on my agenda.”
Asked if he had spoken to Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, he said: “I haven’t spoken to Russia and I’ve got no plans to do so.”
The Defence Secretary John Healey told MPs on Monday afternoon that he “would not be drawn on details of long range missiles today.”
He insisted public discussion of the matter would “compromise operational security” adding that doing so would only help Putin.
Downing Street would only say they wanted to put Ukraine in the “strongest possible position going into the winter to defend its sovereign territory”.
Sir Keir’s spokeswoman added: “Our support in Ukraine is ironclad and will continue on that basis. But as to the specifics of the support that we provide … we won’t get into speculation or a commentary on operational discussions.
“It also remains the case that no war was ever won with one single piece of kit,” she said.
Asked if it was fair to say the UK would work in lockstep with the US, the spokeswoman replied: “It has always been the case we work closely with our allies and engage to ensure that strategically we are providing the support that Ukraine needs, and we do that in consultation both with Ukraine and with each other as allies.”
Earlier Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson had told Sky News: "The Prime Minister and the Defence Secretary will always keep under review what the Ukrainian government asked of us by way of support."
But Conservative MP Sir Roger Gale argued that Ukraine should be able to use UK-supplied missiles "as it sees fit".
He told the Commons: "Will the United Kingdom, preferably in tandem with our European colleagues, make necessary bilaterally with the United States, align with the United States, in permitting Ukraine to use the missile defence system that we have supplied as it sees fit in its own defence?"
Defence minister Maria Eagle replied: "We intend to align with our allies in making sure that Ukraine can make use of the capabilities that's been offered by those who have committed support to that country in its fight."
The outgoing US president’s decision could see long-range missiles used initially in the Kursk region, where Ukrainian troops have launched an incursion into Russian territory and President Vladimir Putin has bolstered his defences with troops from North Korea.
Mr Zelensky has been lobbying western allies for permission to strike targets in Russian territory, arguing that he is effectively being forced to fight with his hands tied because he cannot hit the bases Mr Putin is using to launch air attacks against his country.
Mr Zelensky said “long-range capabilities” are a key part of his “victory plan”.
But Moscow warned the move would be a major escalation in the conflict.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “If such a decision has indeed been formulated and communicated to the Kyiv regime, then of course this is a qualitatively new round of escalation of tensions and a qualitatively new situation in terms of the involvement of the United States in this conflict.”
Putin-loyalist Vladimir Dzhabarov, the deputy chairman of the Russian parliament’s foreign affairs committee warned: “This is a very big step towards the beginning of the Third World War”.
And a number of allies of Donald Trump attacked Mr Biden’s decision.
Utah senator Mike Lee tweeted it showed that “Libs love war”.
Unofficial Trump adviser Elon Musk replied: “True.”
And former director of national intelligence Richard Grenell accused the President of “escalating the wars before he leaves office” and risked “launching a whole new war”.
Donald Trump Jr accused those backing the decision of “wanting World War III” stressing his father wished to “create peace and save lives”.
