Volodymyr Zelensky pleads to make use of long-range missiles as Putin branded ‘fascist’

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has pleaded with the UK and the US to be allowed to launch missiles into Russia.

He met with Foreign Secretary David Lammy and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who travelled to Kyiv for crucial talks. Mr Zelensky wants to use Storm Shadow missiles, supplied by Britain, to strike targets in Russian territory.

Mr Lammy siad: “We recognise that Ukraine is on the front line of the fight for freedom, and also that over these last few weeks, we have seen a tremendous loss of life of innocent men, women and children here in Ukraine.” He said he would report back to PM Keir Starmer about the “operational detail” he’d received.

Mr Lammy refused to be drawn on whether the UK would allow Mr Zelensky’s request, saying it would “give Putin the advantage”. He described Russia’s assault on Ukraine as “imperialism” and “fascism”, and compared it to his own ancestors’ experience of slavery.

The Foreign Secretary told a press conference in Kyiv: “Putin’s barbaric actions are the latest example of a very old and evil story.
“One of my ancestors was taken from their home, enslaved, chained on a ship and forced to work for the profit of a foreign empire.

“He knew only too well what imperialism was. No act of authoritarianism is ever exactly the same, but 80 years after Stalin deported the Crimean Tartars, 240 years after Catherine the Great annexed Crimea, (Vladimir) Putin has revealed the same arrogance, the same greed and the same disdain for the rights of others individuals and nations.

“This is imperialism. This is fascism.”

Mr Zelensky called for “strong decisions” as he pressed for permission to use long-distance missiles. He said: “Let’s count on some strong decisions on this. For us it is very important for today. Anyway, I will tell you after the meeting and anyway I am counting on my dialogue with President (Joe) Biden this month.”