UK shift on Ukraine escalates tension: Kremlin

The Kremlin has accused Britain of a ‘direct escalation’ of the war in Ukraine after David Cameron said Kyiv had the right to fire UK-supplied missiles into Russia.

UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron walks past a display of destroyed Russian military vehicles in Kyiv last week. Picture: Getty Images

The Kremlin has accused Britain of a “direct escalation” of the war in Ukraine after Foreign Secretary David Cameron said Kyiv had the right to fire UK-supplied missiles into Russia.

In a shift in Western policy, Lord Cameron said Ukraine could use long-range missiles for airstrikes across the border.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the remarks as a “concerning development”.

He said there was a “very dangerous trend” of Western countries edging closer towards direct confrontation with Russia after French President Emmanuel Macron last week reiterated warnings European allies could deploy troops on the ground if Russian troops broke through Ukraine’s frontline defences.

“This is a very dangerous trend. We are watching this closely. We continue and will continue our special military ­operation until all our goals are achieved,” Mr Peskov said.

Asked about Lord Cameron’s comments, he said: “This is a ­direct escalation of tension around the Ukrainian conflict, which could potentially pose a danger to European security, the entire architecture of European security.”

Britain was the first country to give long-range missiles to Ukraine. With a range of 550km, the Storm Shadow cruise missiles enabled Kyiv to hit military sites deep into Crimea, the peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014. France has given Scalp missiles, which are equivalent to Storm Shadows. The US ­recently confirmed the delivery of ATACMS ground-launched ballistic mis­siles with a range of 300km.

However, Western countries have previously expressed nervousness about Ukraine using those weapons to hit Russian territory. Germany has baulked at sending Taurus long-range missiles to Kyiv despite repeated pleas from Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Speaking in Kyiv, Lord Cameron announced the latest batch of military aid would ­include laser-guided Paveway IV bombs, air defence missiles and equipment for 100 mobile air ­defence teams.

“Some of that (equipment) is actually arriving in Ukraine today, while I’m here,” he said on Saturday.

“In terms of what the Ukrainians do, in our view it is their ­decision about how to use these weapons. They’re defending their country, they were illegally invaded by Putin, they must take those steps.

“We don’t discuss any caveats that we put on those things. But let’s be absolutely clear, Russia has launched an attack into Ukraine, and Ukraine absolutely has the right to strike back against Russia.”

Asked whether Ukraine had the right to use British weapons to hit targets inside Russia, Lord Cameron said it was a matter for the generals.

“Ukraine has that right. Just as Russia is striking inside Ukraine, you can quite understand why Ukraine feels the need to make sure it’s defending itself,” he said.

Lord Cameron said Britain was “leading the way” in supporting Ukraine as he celebrated the US decision last month to ­release $US61bn ($92bn) of aid.

“We will give 3bn ($5.7bn) every year for as long as is necessary. We’ve just really emptied all we can in terms of giving equipment,” he said.

Ukraine has developed its own long-range drones to strike targets hundreds of kilometres away from the border.

the Times