UK’s Starmer says Ukraine support is ‘self-defence’ after Storm Shadows hit Russia

LONDON — Keir Starmer defended Britain’s support for Ukraine as “proportionate” and legal Thursday after reports that U.K.-donated missiles were fired on Russian territory.

The U.K. prime minister did not confirm that British-made long-range Storm Shadow missiles had been approved or used. But, in a House of Commons statement, he repeatedly would not deny the widespread reports — and appeared to pre-empt condemnation from Moscow.

“The U.K.’s support for Ukraine is always for self-defense,” he told MPs. “It is proportionate, coordinated and agile, and a response to Russia’s own actions, and it is in accordance with international law. Under Article 51 of the U.N. Charter, Ukraine has a clear right of self-defense against Russia’s illegal attacks.”

Storm Shadow cruise missiles — which Britain has donated to Ukraine — were fired at targets inside Russia for the first time, multiple outlets reported Wednesday.

Despite repeated hints from Starmer earlier this week that London would give its consent, the government is still refusing to confirm the reports.

But Starmer has long pressed the issue, raising it in White House talks with U.S. President Joe Biden and at the United Nations General Assembly in September. British officials have been keen to act only with U.S. approval, as the missiles rely partly on U.S. tracking technology.

Biden approved Ukraine firing its donated ATACMS ballistic missiles into Russia earlier this week, prompting an aggressive verbal response from Russia’s President Vladimir Putin.

Starmer appeared to justify the strikes by telling MPs that Putin had indulged “in dangerous irresponsible rhetoric,” adding: “This is a man who wants destruction not peace, and after 1,000 days of war … I am clear that we must double down in our support.

“We will not be deterred or distracted by reckless threats. We have consistently said we will do what it takes to support Ukraine and put it in the best possible position going into the winter.”

He added: “We will back Ukraine with what is needed for as long as it’s needed.”

‘Making our own contribution’

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has long demanded that Western allies loosen their restrictions on the long-range missiles. Downing Street has sought to play down expectations that they alone could win the war.

Starmer on Thursday told Conservative MP John Whittingdale, who congratulated him on “the decision to allow Ukraine to strike against targets in Russia,” that “we are obviously making our own contribution” to helping Ukraine’s military industrial sector develop its own technology. “I won’t go into the details … here,” Starmer added.

The U.K. plans to release defense intelligence on Thursday that “will reveal the front line is now less stable than at any time” since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Defence Secretary John Healey told a Commons committee.

Healey again refused to confirm widespread reports that Storm Shadow missiles were used on Russian territory. He told MPs: “I won’t be drawn on the operational details of the conflict. It risks both operational security and, in the end, the only one that benefits from such a public debate is President Putin.”