Russia can end war now, says PM, as Putin warns West

Russia started the conflict in Ukraine and could end it “immediately,” said Sir Keir Starmer.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had previously indicated that Moscow would view the launch of Western missiles at Russia as a serious escalation of the war.

Putin said on Russian state television that this would mean “nothing other than the direct involvement of NATO countries – the US and European countries – in the war in Ukraine.”

Sir Keir is in Washington on Friday for talks with US President Joe Biden as Kyiv's allies discuss giving Ukraine permission to fire its missiles at targets in Russia.

“It is their direct involvement,” he said. “And of course this fundamentally changes the essence, the nature of the conflict.”

He added: “If that is the case, we will make appropriate decisions based on the threats that arise for us.”

When asked to comment on the remarks made on his flight to Washington, the Prime Minister reiterated in a forceful tone that Russia had started the war.

“Russia started this conflict. Russia invaded Ukraine illegally. Russia can end this conflict immediately,” he said.

He later added: “To repeat, it was Russia that started this in the first place. They caused the conflict, they are the ones who are acting unlawfully.”

The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary David Lammy are conducting a blitz of international diplomacy as Ukraine's allies debate how to respond to Iran's increased support for Russia.

lamb told the BBC This “clearly changes the debate” when he visited Kyiv together with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

On Sunday, a day after his return from Washington, the Prime Minister will fly to Rome to meet with Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni.

Italy currently holds the rotating presidency of the G7 group of industrialized countries.

A week later, the world’s heads of state and government will meet in New York for the annual UN General Assembly.

There was long hesitation in allowing Ukraine to launch Western missiles at Russia, fearing that this could be seen as a provocation and draw the United States, European countries and others directly into the conflict.

But with winter approaching and the additional support Russia is receiving from Iran, Russian attitudes seem to be changing.

When asked about the prospect of Anglo-French cruise missile called Storm Shadow Nevertheless, high-ranking figures continue to express themselves with caution.

“There are likely to be really important developments in the coming weeks and months, both in Ukraine and in the Middle East, and therefore a number of tactical decisions will have to be taken,” the prime minister told reporters, without denying that the issue is on the agenda.

He noted that both Blinken and Lammy recently visited Ukraine.

“They are obviously here to report on the process on a really important journey together.”

Putin had previously stated on the same day: “It is not a question of allowing or prohibiting the Kiev regime from attacking Russian territory. It is already doing so with drones and other means.”

“But when it comes to high-precision, long-range weapons made in the West, it's a completely different matter… The Ukrainian army is not capable of striking with modern, high-precision, long-range systems. It cannot do that.”

“This is only possible with intelligence data from satellites that Ukraine does not have, data that comes exclusively from European Union, US and NATO satellites.”

“The key point,” he added, “is that only soldiers from NATO countries can enter flight missions into these missile systems. Ukrainian soldiers cannot do that. So it is not a question of allowing or not allowing the Ukrainian regime to attack Russia with these weapons.”

“It is a question of whether the NATO states make the decision to participate directly in the military conflict or not.”

This is the second visit to Washington in just over two months, after travelling here in July for the NATO summit and a visit to the White House shortly after his victory in the parliamentary elections.

Sir Keir said he would not meet Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris during the visit.

On the flight to the USA, he answered questions from journalists: “No, because she will, as expected, be in other parts of the USA and not in Washington, but, as expected, in the swing states… That's fine.”