Keir Starmer meets Joe Biden as Zelensky fumes over Ukraine missile choice

Joe Biden said he “doesn’t think much about Vladimir Putin” as Keir Starmer visited the White House for crunch talks on missiles for Ukraine.

It comes as Ukraine’s wartime leader Zelensky expressed frustration at restrictions on the use of missiles against Russia.

Speaking in the White House blue room with a host of officials facing the American President, Mr Starmer said he believes the UK and US are “strategically aligned” as they began discussions about the conflict in Ukraine and the Middle East.

But asked by reporters what he thought about the Russian dictator’s threat of war, President Biden said: “I don’t think much about Vladimir Putin.”

The PM and US President put on a united front at the White House – just 24 hours after the Russian dictator issued a chilling threat to Nato countries. Putin said lifting restrictions on Ukraine’s use of long-range missiles to strike targets inside Russian territory would “change the very nature of the conflict”.

“It would mean that Nato countries are at war with Russia,” he added in a dramatic escalation of rhetoric.

The remark was dismissed by Mr Starmer, who said the Russian leader had started the bloody invasion of Ukraine and could “end this conflict straight away”.

On Friday evening the PM held a one-on-one meeting with the outgoing US President Mr Biden in the White House – before strategic talks with officials. At the session, the PM was joined by Foreign Secretary David Lammy, National Security Adviser Tim Barrow and UK ambassador to the US, Dame Karen Pierce. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was expected to join alongside President Biden.

At the start of the meeting, Mr Starmer said he believes the UK and US are “strategically aligned”.

Asked what he thought about Russian President Vladimir Putin‘s threat of war, US President Joe Biden said: “I don’t think much about Vladimir Putin.”

Mr Starmer and Mr Biden were expected to discuss the conflict in the Middle East, and any progress that can be made towards a ceasefire in Gaza, where over 41,000 Palestinians have lost their lives. But the talks came amid mounting speculation that western allies were preparing to ease restrictions on Kyiv’s use of long-range Storm Shadow missiles.

The weapons, which have already been supplied to Ukraine by the UK, have a maximum range of 190miles. But under current rules Kyiv is not able to strike Russian territory. No announcement on changing the restriction was expected on Friday night.

But Ukraine’s war-time leader Zenlensky said Putin had “no interest in ending” the war and was “content to send people to their deaths”. He said it was “difficult” to hear from international partners “we are working on this” when requests are made for support such as air defence systems. Zelensky added: “It’s the same with long-range capabilities.

“Anyone who sees at a map where Russia launches its strikes from, trains its forces, keeps its reserves, locates its military facilities, and what logistics uses clearly understands why Ukraine needs long-range capabilities. We discussed this with Secretary Blinken and Foreign Secretary Lammy during their visits. After our conversation, I believe there should be no unanswered questions about why Ukraine needs sufficient long-range capabilities.

“I want to emphasise the word ‘sufficient’—not just enough to say that there is a decision, but enough to truly change the course of the war and compel Russia to seek peace.”

During a whirlwind 24-hour visit to Washington DC – the PM’s second trip to America since Labour’s election landslide – he received a red-carpet welcome at the Joint Base Andrews Airport before a motorcade ferried him to the UK ambassador’s residence. Mr Starmer, who was accompanied by his powerful chief-of-staff Sue Gray, told reporters onboard the UK government plane he was not expecting to meet US Vice President, Kamala Harris.

The Democratic nominee in November’s presidential election was campaigning in swing states, “as you’d expect”, the PM said.
Separately, the Ministry of Defence revealed on Thursday that Royal Navy warships had spent the last week shadowing four Russian vessels that sailed through the Channel and North Sea.

The MoD said two RAF Typhoons were also scrambled on Wednesday to intercept two Russian Bear-F aircraft operating near the UK. At no point did they enter UK sovereign airspace, the government added. Earlier this week Defence Secretary John Healey said: “This Government is committed to making the UK secure at home and strong abroad.

“Efforts by the Royal Navy and RAF over the last two weeks demonstrate their selfless commitment to protecting our national security.
“I’d like to thank those members of our armed forces who took part in this operation, their professionalism and skill was on full display while working seamlessly with our Nato allies to uphold international standards.”

Ex-PM Boris Johnson, who met with Zelensky in Kyiv on Friday also pressed western allies to allow Ukraine to use Storm Shadow missiles against targets in Russia.
“It is vital that Ukraine should be able to defend itself properly by stopping the appalling Russian attacks with glide bombs and now Iranian missiles,” he said. The former Tory Defence Secretary Grant Shapps added: “This is a defining moment for supporting democracy – no more words, it’s time for the West to take real action.”