David Lammy must ‘stop dithering’ and allow Ukraine to strike Russian territory with UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles, a former Nato commander has said.
The Foreign Secretary said the West will not be ‘bullied’ by Vladimir Putin, who has threatened to use nuclear weapons if Britain gives the green light.
He dismissed the Russian dictator’s warning as ‘a lot of bluster’ and said: ‘We cannot be blown off course by an imperialist fascist.’
However, Mr Lammy and Sir Keir Starmer returned from Washington this week without US approval to fire the long-range weapons onto Russian soil, where they could be used to take out airfields and missile sites.
And General Sir John McColl, former Nato Deputy Supreme Commander in Europe, warned Mr Lammy ‘should not signal this kind of dither and dilemma’.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy (pictured) said the West would not be bullied by Putin
General Sir John McColll (pictured) warned Mr Lammy ‘should not signal this kind of dither and dilemma’
He told the BBC that after delays in supplying Ukraine with tanks and fighter jets: ‘Here we are again with missiles. We’re dithering. What we should be doing is being firm from the outset.’
And Volodymyr Zelensky urged Western leaders to overcome ‘the fear of making strong, objectively necessary decisions’. He said: ‘Only decisiveness can bring a just end to this war. It is decisiveness that most effectively protects against terror.’
Referring directly to Storm Shadow, he added: ‘The only way to counter this terror is through a systemic solution – long-range capabilities to destroy Russian military aviation at its bases.’
His latest plea came after more Russian strikes in Kharkiv and across the eastern regions of Sumy and Donetsk left dozens injured.
Five former defence secretaries and ex-prime minister Boris Johnson have also urged Sir Keir to allow Ukraine to use the missiles without US backing.
Grant Shapps, Sir Ben Wallace, Sir Gavin Williamson, Penny Mordaunt, Sir Liam Fox and Mr Johnson told The Sunday Times that further delay will embolden Putin.
Britain can authorise Ukraine to fire the missiles onto Russian soil without US permission – despite Sir Keir repeatedly saying he needs Washington’s approval.
However, if Storm Shadows are launched without American assistance they are more likely to be intercepted. A defence official explained that they use GPS to find their target, but Moscow’s electronic warfare ‘has rendered GPS useless’.
It means they are reliant on classified American-owned mapping data to be effective.
Volodymyr Zelensky urged Western leaders to overcome ‘the fear of making strong, objectively necessary decisions’
US President Joe Biden and Sir Keir Starmer meet in the Blue Room at the White House on September 13
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson meets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Mr Johnson has urged Sir Keir to allow Ukraine to use the missiles without US backing
The Storm Shadow cruise missile on display during the Paris Air Show in 2023
But hopes were dashed that Sir Keir could gain approval as crunch talks with President Biden in Washington last Friday ended without any agreement. Mr Biden and his team reportedly signalled they want to go into a ‘holding pattern’ until Volodymyr Zelensky presents his ‘victory plan’ at the UN later this month.
That is despite Secretary of State Antony Blinken hinting that the US was edging towards authorising the use of the Anglo-French weapon.
Meanwhile, a British military intelligence update suggested Russia was continuing a ‘high tempo of offensive operations in multiple areas of the frontline’.
A counter-offensive has been launched in Kursk, the area of Russia invaded by Ukraine, and they have ‘highly likely retaken several villages’.
In eastern Ukraine, Putin’s troops are making ‘gradual advances’ around Vuhledar and the important logistics hub of Pokrovsk.