Il primo ministro britannico Keir Starmer sta “facendo il gioco di Putin” per il ritardo del permesso per Storm Shadow, afferma l’ex segretario alla difesa britannico Grant Shapps
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/09/14/starmer-is-playing-into-putins-hands-storm-shadow-delay/
di TheTelegraph
9 commenti
**From The Telegraph’s Deputy Political Editor, Daniel Martin:**
Grant Shapps has accused Sir Keir Starmer of “playing into Putin’s hands” by delaying an announcement on [whether Ukraine can fire British-made missiles into Russia](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/09/13/starmer-washington-no-biden-approval-ukraine-storm-shadow/).
The former defence secretary said the Prime Minister should give the green light now, rather than [waiting for US approval](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2024/09/13/joe-biden-ukraine-atacms-missiles-storm-shadows/).
Sir Ben Wallace, another former defence secretary, said the “tug of war” over the use of the missiles would embolden Vladimir Putin.
Sir Keir flew to Washington and held intensive talks with [Joe Biden](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/joe-biden/) on Friday to discuss pleas from Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, over permission to use the Storm Shadow missiles.
There was no announcement on the missiles afterwards, but the Prime Minister suggested an answer could come at the UN General Assembly later this month.
Mr Shapps said: “Starmer’s hesitation to support Ukraine while waiting for US approval risks emboldening Putin and seriously undermines Kyiv’s chances of victory.
“This is a moment for decisive leadership, not cautious delay. We need to act now to provide president Zelensky with the support he desperately needs to turn the tide. Anything less only plays into Putin’s hands.”
Sir Ben told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme that the wrangling over Ukraine’s use of long-range missiles in Russia would benefit [Putin](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/vladimir-putin/).
“I’m just disappointed that it’s yet again, another tug of war around another capability,” he said.
The row over whether Western missiles can be used to strike targets across Ukraine’s border follows similar delays over decisions on supplying tanks and fighter jets.
“All of that delay, all of that tug of war favours Russia and allows Putin to insert, in the delay, threats and new red lines and efforts to divide and rule in the international community,” he said.
Sir Ben added that Putin was “a bully, and for a bully to succeed all he needs to do is intimidate people, all he needs to do is get people to pause and… that’s how he gets us to change our behaviour”.
On Thursday, Putin said that permitting Western-made missiles to strike Russia would mean that [Nato is engaged in the “war” with Russia](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2024/09/12/storm-shadows-putin-ukraine-retaliate-victoria-spartz/).
Mr Biden is reportedly holding back on supplying US-made Atacms missiles, the country’s equivalent to the Storm Shadow, for fear of escalating the war.
But he is understood to be willing to approve the use of US intelligence and targeting systems to accompany the Storm Shadow, which is jointly produced by Britain, France and Italy.
**Article Link:** [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/09/14/starmer-is-playing-into-putins-hands-storm-shadow-delay/](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/09/14/starmer-is-playing-into-putins-hands-storm-shadow-delay/)
Just put labels “Made in Ukraine” on the rockets and be done with it
If your not from the UK.
Getting advice from Grant Shapps is like getting advice from your dog.
It’s delightful how the Telegraph thinks Grant Shapps, or whatever he’s going by these days, has an ounce of relevance left in him.
Could Shapps perhaps explain why he didn’t give approval when he was in charge – or wouldn’t Corinne Stockheath and Michael Green let him?
I mean, if the US continues to block their use then Starmer’s not really going to have much choice is he.
Even though this entire problem is utter horse shit because Ukraine has already used the missiles in what Russia (falsely) calls ‘Russia’ in the Ukrainian oblasts it’s occupying, so the ‘red lines’ have either already been crossed or Russia is essentially admitting that Donbas and Crimea aren’t actually Russia.
Haven’t we, the British already said yes to the permission. It’s the Americans who are pushing back with a no.
So, Shapps is trying to make a political gain over this. He is a clown.
didn’t he have the same opportunity as Starmer?
Grant Snapps who famously did not give permission to use these things on Russian soil while he was in office.