Over 800 days into Europe’s bloodiest conflict since the Second World War, Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine shows no sign of relenting. Despite tens of thousands killed on both sides, and Ukrainian cities still facing daily, deadly bombardments, Russian president Vladimir Putin – emboldened by Western equivocation – has not abandoned his maximalist objectives, seeking to seize more territory.
Now Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, is in his sights. For weeks, President Zelensky has pleaded with the United States to permit his armies to use the advanced missiles donated by Washington to strike nearby military targets in Russia preparing to assault Ukraine – something President Biden had been reluctant to do, citing the dangers of escalation. Yet this decision, whilst well-meaning, led to the patently absurd scenario that Moscow’s forces could gather, unmolested, as little as four kilometres from the targets in Ukraine they were about to attack en masse.
Now, at last, President Biden has relented, bowing to international pressure to permit Kyiv to use American weapons to strike nearby Russian territory on the Kharkiv front. Britain can be proud that it has long granted permission for Kyiv to use its donated weapons – including deadly Storm Shadow missiles – on targets in Russia without such restrictions, recognising that Ukraine is in an existential fight. Washington, by contrast, even now is still limiting the range its weapons can be fired into Russian soil.
For too long Europe has looked to a White House for leadership that is so cautious it is impeding Ukraine’s ability to defend itself. The US has a vital role to play, but if Kyiv is to survive this war, then it will ultimately be Europe’s, not Washington’s, responsibility to lead the charge.
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