British Prime Minister Keir Starmer suggested on Wednesday that Ukraine might use long-range missiles supplied by the UK to attack Russian military targets in the event of a war.
Speaking to reporters on a flight to Washington to attend the NATO 75th anniversary summit, Starmer told the Ukrainian military that the decision on the use of the UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles rests with the country's military.
British military aid is "for defensive purposes, but it is for Ukraine to decide how it is used for these defensive purposes," said Starmer, who became UK leader last Friday after a landslide Labour victory.
The comments confirm that Labour is taking the same position on air-launched missiles as Rishi Sunak, Liz Truss and the Conservative government under Boris Johnson previously.
Since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of neighbouring Ukraine in February 2022, Britain has been one of Kiev's strongest allies.
Britain has provided Ukraine with funding, weapons and military training for the war. Britain was the first country to supply long-range weapons to the Ukrainian military, announcing it would supply Storm Shadow missiles in May last year.
Starmer was due to reiterate Britain's support for Ukraine and its "unwavering commitment" to the Western military alliance NATO at a summit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
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