Ukraine appealed to Western allies with a request to grant permission to use Storm Shadow long-range missiles for attacks on military facilities deep in Russia. As The Guardian , Kyiv believes that such demonstrative attacks can force the Kremlin to seriously consider the possibility of negotiations on the cessation of hostilities.
Ukrainian high-ranking officials emphasize that the threat to Moscow and St. Petersburg, in particular the possibility of hitting objects near the Russian capital, may force Russia to reconsider its strategy and open the way for negotiations. According to one of the sources, Russia will be ready for dialogue only when it realizes that Ukraine has the ability to strike the key cities of the aggressor country.
However, as The Guardian , this strategy is risky and has not yet received support from the United States. Washington fears the escalation of the conflict, which could have unpredictable consequences.
Ukraine has been trying for several months to get permission to use Storm Shadow to attack targets on Russian territory, but these efforts have so far been unsuccessful. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi, during a speech in honor of Independence Day, emphasized that Kyiv is forced to respond to the Russian invasion and Moscow's use of aerial bombs and ballistic missiles against the Ukrainian population.
"Our enemy will also know what Ukrainian retaliation means. Dignified, symmetrical and far-reaching," said Zelensky, hinting at the possibility of strikes on Russian facilities.
Storm Shadow missiles, developed as part of Anglo-French cooperation and produced by the European consortium MBDA, could become a powerful tool in the hands of the Armed Forces. However, their use on the territory of Russia requires permission from the United States, since some components of the missile are supplied from America. Until now, Washington has not given such consent, because it is afraid of the escalation of the conflict.
American officials have expressed doubts about the effectiveness of using the Storm Shadow at long distances and fear that Russian fighter jets launching glide bombs over the frontline areas of Ukraine may be out of range of these missiles.
Great Britain, despite informal conversations, has not officially asked the US for permission to use Storm Shadow for targets in Russia. The British Ministry of Defense refrained from commenting, only repeating previous statements that London supports Ukraine's right to self-defense.
Kyiv believes that the use of long-range weapons can force the Kremlin to reevaluate its actions and take the possibility of negotiations more seriously. However, few believe that Russian President Vladimir Putin is really interested in ending hostilities.
