US prepares to allow Ukraine to use Storm Shadow missiles on Russian territory

The Telegraph reported on November 18 that US President Joe Biden is expected to allow Ukraine to deploy Storm Shadow missiles deep into Russian territory for the first time, marking a new turning point in Western military support for Kiev.

The British-made Storm Shadow missiles are expected to be used to target strategic targets in Russia's Kursk province, where Ukraine is facing strong resistance.

Against this backdrop, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is under intense pressure to license the Taurus missile, which has a longer range and is more widely available than the Storm Shadow. But Scholz has steadfastly refused, leading analysts to say it could hamper Ukraine’s efforts to gain an advantage on the battlefield.

At the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stressed that Western countries need to “step up their support” to deal with Russia’s use of third-party military assistance. He affirmed that it is necessary to ensure that Ukraine has everything it needs, for as long as it needs it, to prevent Russia from “winning this war.”

Now, London is hoping that President Biden will make a decision after repeatedly rejecting the British request. The missile system can only be effective with the support of the US system. Previously, the US was concerned that the deployment of long-range missiles on Russian territory could escalate the conflict. However, the appearance of a third army has changed the situation, forcing the US to respond more strongly.

Storm Shadow is a tactical strike missile with a range of about 250 km designed to destroy hardened targets such as arsenals, repair centers and military airfields. Ukraine has deployed Storm Shadow and ATACMS missiles supplied by the US and UK, but only for use within its own territory.

US intelligence believes that most Russian military aircraft have been moved out of range of both missiles (Storm Shadow and ATACMS), and predicts that Mr. Biden will approve their deployment. However, experts say the use of Storm Shadow will make it difficult for Russia to resupply forces in combat zones such as Kursk, while increasing pressure on Russian defenses.

Despite major decisions by the US and UK, German Chancellor Scholz has refused to grant permission to use Taurus missiles on Russian territory. This decision has caused a wave of criticism, with former UK defence secretary Ben Wallace calling Scholz “unfit to lead Germany”.

Previously, on November 17, information about the ATACMS missile being licensed appeared in The New York Times, but was not confirmed by US officials.

The issue dominated the first day of the G20 summit in Brazil, where British Prime Minister Keir met Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Downing Street declined to say whether they had discussed the issue, but said each side had promised to “engage honestly and frankly on areas where we have different views, including the conflict in Ukraine”.

Some allies of President-elect Donald Trump have condemned Mr Biden’s decision to allow the deployment of long-range missiles inside Russia, although none of his nominees for key positions have criticized the move.

It is unclear whether Mr. Trump will authorize the use of ATACMS and Storm Shadows after taking office on January 20, 2025. He has promised to facilitate talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky before he takes office, and end the war through peace talks.

In a related development, on November 18, members of the AUKUS alliance (UK, US, Australia) also announced plans to accelerate the development of hypersonic missiles, with the goal of completing up to six tests before 2028. This is considered a strategic step to prepare for the future of high-tech warfare.