US-UK Leaders Meet to Discuss Ukraine, Middle East, and Indo-Pacific

US President Joe Biden downplayed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent threats as he met with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the White House on Friday. During their summit, Biden dismissed the notion that Ukraine’s use of Western-made Storm Shadow missiles to target Russia would provoke NATO into a war with Moscow, stating, “I do not think much about Vladimir Putin.”

The meeting, held in the White House’s Blue Room, focused on various foreign policy issues, including the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Both leaders were joined by key figures, such as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, alongside national security teams. Starmer’s visit comes amid rising tensions following the UK’s agreement to allow Ukraine to use the long-range Storm Shadow missiles.

Storm Shadow Missiles and NATO Concerns

While no official decision regarding the use of Storm Shadow missiles was announced, Biden indicated that the matter was under discussion. Starmer emphasized that the meeting was more focused on broader strategic discussions, rather than specific decisions on missile usage. Meanwhile, Ukraine has been lobbying for months to use the missiles against Russian military targets, which could extend the conflict deeper into Russian territory.

Putin had warned earlier that allowing Ukraine to deploy these missiles would be considered an escalation by NATO. Despite these concerns, both Biden and Starmer underscored Ukraine’s right to self-defense, with Starmer stating, “Russia started this conflict. Russia illegally invaded Ukraine. Ukraine has the right to defend itself.”

Diplomatic Tensions Between the UK and Russia

In a related development, Russia revoked the accreditation of six British diplomats in Moscow, accusing them of espionage. The UK Foreign Office dismissed the claims as “baseless” and stated the move was part of an ongoing diplomatic exchange, with the diplomats already having left Russia weeks prior. The diplomatic strain follows the UK’s earlier expulsion of a Russian defense attaché for allegedly being an undeclared intelligence officer.

As tensions continue to escalate, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is urging Western allies to expedite missile supplies to weaken Russia’s ability to launch strikes. While the US and UK have yet to formally approve the missile deployment, Western officials are reportedly devising a broader strategy to end the conflict.

Putin’s Response and Russian Opposition

In response to increased Western support for Ukraine, the Russian embassy in London criticized the UK’s financial and military assistance to Kyiv, arguing it was wasteful and would not help ordinary Britons as economic challenges loom. However, both Biden and Starmer remained firm in their commitment to aiding Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression, with further discussions expected in the coming weeks.