Foreign Secretary David Lammy has warned the security of Europe is at stake as optimism grows in Ukraine that it will get the green light to fire long-range missiles into Russia.
In what would be a major shift in tactics, Western countries are considering lifting restrictions despite fears over how Putin might retaliate.
On a visit to Kyiv with his US counterpart, Mr Lammy blasted Russia’s “fascism” and “imperialism”. And he said the West was “listening carefully and … having discussions on a range of issues including the military equipment that Ukraine needs to win.”
Mr Lammy also said Iran’s delivery of ballistic missiles to Russia “clearly changes the debate” as they would allow Moscow “to have further penetration into Ukraine”.
Ukraine stunned Putin’s administration last month with a series of attacks inside Russian territory. Now it wants to step up that campaign, using missiles including Storm Shadows supplied by Britain.
During a press conference in the Ukrainian capital, Mr Lammy described Russia’s actions as “imperialism” and “fascism” and compared it to his own ancestors’ experience of being enslaved.
“Putin’s barbaric actions are the latest example of a very old and evil story,” he said.
“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.”
At stake in this war, he added, was “the security of Europe and the security of the West”.
As part of a joint press conference, his US counterpart Anthony Blinken hinted that the US could allow the use of long-range missiles against targets inside Russia, saying, “We’re working with urgency to continue to ensure that Ukraine has what it needs to effectively defend itself.”
Earlier Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky ramped up the pressure on the West to give his country permission to use long-distance missiles in Russia.
President Zelensky called for “strong decisions” to be made.
It came as Mr Lammy and Mr Blinken used a rare joint visit to to show support in the battle against Putin’s forces.
Mr Zelensky has repeatedly called for Ukraine to be allowed to use Western missiles against Russia.
He was given a boost on Tuesday when US President Joe Biden said we are “working that out now”. Keir Starmer is set to discuss the issue with President Biden when the two men meet at the White House on Friday.
Speaking at a conference attended by both Mr Lammy and Mr Blinken, the Ukrainian president said that he was “optimistic about their decision to give us permission to use long distance (missiles)”.
But, he added: “It is a pity it doesn’t depend on my optimism. It depends on their optimism. Let’s count on some strong decisions on this. For us it is very important.”
Mr Lammy told reporters that the West was “listening carefully… and, of course, we are having discussions on a range of issues including the military equipment that Ukraine needs to win.”
A source with connections to the Ukrainian military’s general staff has told The Independent that Kyiv urgently needs permission to use the missiles.
Targets inside Russia could include weapons depots, airbases used by warplanes that launch cruise missiles and glide bombs, and areas where satellite images show Moscow mustering troops for fresh assaults on Ukraine.
The Independent’s source, a colonel who has been involved in negotiations to acquire western weapons, said: “We need restrictions eliminated on how and where we use the Storm Shadows and other types of weapons and for our allies to provide the longer-range types of missiles.”
There have been concerns that the use of such weapons would cause Putin to escalate the war. But the source said: “Every time we have been provided with more powerful weapons, we have shown how effectively we can use them and there has been no ‘escalation’ and instead the Russians have moved further away from our borders and it’s limited what they can do.”
Lifting the restrictions would “save many lives”, he said, adding that “pushing back the Russians – and Russian weapons – from the Ukrainian border means that their missiles and planes will have further to fly and we will have more time to detect them and warn people of approaching threats.”
In Ukraine, the Foreign Secretary also announced more £600m worth of support for Ukraine, including reaffirming for PM Rishi Sunak’s pledge of £242m, as well as $484m (£370m) worth of loan guarantees for World Bank lending before the end of the year.
He insisted that the UK’s support for Ukraine was “unwavering”.
He added: “The bravery and resilience of the Ukrainian people is inspiring. Alongside the United States, we are committed to giving Ukraine what it needs to resist Russia’s illegal invasion.
“Their fight for freedom, liberty and democracy is also a fight for British security, European security, and global security. With the US, we stand firmly with Ukraine for as long as it takes.”