Update(1450ET): Kirby came out on Friday and told reporters that there's been no change in US policy regarding Ukraine using Western arms for long-rage strikes inside Russia. But the pressure is quickly ramping up: first Canada's Trudeau said he supports greenlighting this, despite Putin making clear this would mean 'direct war' between Russia and NATO, and now UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is coming out in support. According to breaking reporting in The Wall Street Journal:
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to urge President Biden on Friday during a visit to Washington to sign off on allowing Ukraine to use long-range European-made cruise missiles to strike targets deep inside Russia, according to U.S. and Western officials.
...A decision to lift a ban on Kyiv using the Storm Shadow missile, which can hit targets 155 miles away, to fire into Russia would be a major win for Ukraine, which has been urging Western countries for months to loosen restrictions on long-range weapons.
Yes, Zelensky has been essentially begging for it, but we highly doubt a "win" will follow especially given as we detailed below Putin still holds many cards, and would likely escalate attacks on Kiev in a big way.
"While the final decision on Storm Shadow will be made by the U.K. government, British officials will ask for the Biden administration to weigh in because some components of the missiles are made in the U.S.," WSJ continues in the Friday afternoon report.
Hours earlier, PM Trudeau made his position clear:
Canada fully supports Ukraine using long-range weaponry to "prevent and interdict Russia's continued ability to degrade Ukrainian civilian infrastructure", Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday.
Trudeau told reporters that Russian President Vladimir Putin was trying to deeply destabilize the international rules-based order and added: "That's why Canada and others are unequivocal that Ukraine must win this war against Russia."
That Western officials are still talking a "win" against Russia means this tragic conflict is about to take a whole new catastrophic turn and path of uncontrollable escalation based on their delusions.
However, Kirby has indicated that while it's hard to take everything Putin says at face value, these latest threats and red lines are being taken "seriously".
On Friday Russia's ambassador to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia, informed the UN Security council that NATO countries would "start an open war" in allowing Western long-range missiles to target Russia.
"If such a decision is made, that means NATO countries are starting an open war against Russia," Moscow’s envoy introduced. "In that case, we will obviously be forced to make certain decisions, with all the attendant consequences for Western aggressors."
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