The Secretary of State said: “Speaking for the United States, we have adjusted and adapted as needs have changed, as the battlefield has changed.
“And I have no doubt that we’ll continue to do that as this evolves.”
Meanwhile, Britain announced that it would provide £3 billion a year to help the country which Lammy described as being “at a critical juncture” in its fight against Russia.
Ukraine continues to pressure the US and UK to allow it to strike into Russia as it battles against missile attacks on its cities and key infrastructure.
At the first meeting between Zelensky and Starmer, it had seemed that the UK had given Ukraine to use UK provided Storm Shadow missiles in an offensive capacity as president Zelensky saying on X afterwards: “This morning, I learned about the permission to use Storm Shadow missiles against military targets in Russian territory.”
However, No.10 quickly corrected the Ukrainian president with a spokeswoman saying that the UK’s position remained “unchanged” and that dialogue was “ongoing”.
Storm Shadow Missiles
Storm Shadow missilesare air-launched long range, conventionally armed, deep strike weapons that have been in service since 2003.
The missile which has a range of 350 miles and a top speed of 621mph, was used in the 2003 invasion of Iraq and has since been used against Muammar Gaddafi in Libya in 2011 as well as against ISIS in Syria.
The missile could prove to be a game changer in Ukraine’s war with Russia.
It would give them the flexibility to hit Russian targets in the rear area, particularly the logistical infrastructure that serves frontline troops.
American Missiles
The country is also keen to use US Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff (JASSM) and Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles in an offensive capacity, a move that could significantly alter the way the country conducts its defence.
Some versions of the JASSM precision missiles have a range of over 575 miles, which could, in theory, put Moscow within range of a Ukrainian strike.
Having entered service in 2009, the weapon was not employed by the US until 2018, when it was used to destroy government chemical facilities in the Syrian civil war.
Their use would bring over 30 Russian airbases into range, many of which have been used to launch strikes against Ukraine.
The green light to use the ATACMS missiles would allow Ukraine to target key Russian infrastructure and logistical supply routes vital to maintain their forces on the frontline and could potentially force Putin to move logisitical depots away from Ukraine.
The ATACMS has been in service for over 30 years and is used by several nations including Austraila, South Korea and Poland.
Both weapons have been in Ukrainian hands since
Russia’s deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, has said Moscow will destroy any new deliveries of long-range missiles to Ukraine by the United States, according to Reuters.
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