Ukraine threatens to attack Moscow and St. Petersburg to push Russia to negotiate - The Guardian

Ukrainian officials are contemplating the use of Anglo-French Storm Shadow missiles in a demonstration attack to illustrate to the Kremlin that military targets near the Russian capital could be vulnerable to direct hits.

A senior Ukrainian official suggested that Russia might only consider negotiating if it perceives a credible threat to Moscow and Saint Petersburg. However, this strategy involves high risk and is not currently supported by the United States.

"Ukraine has been lobbying for months to be allowed to use Storm Shadow against targets inside Russia, but with little success. Nevertheless, as its army struggles on the eastern front, there is a growing belief that its best hope lies in counter-attack," The Guardian reports.

The Guardian recalls President Zelenskyy’s Independence Day speech in which he promised retaliation against the aggressor state for missile attacks on civilian areas.

"Our enemy will also know what the Ukrainian retaliation means,” the president said. “Worthy, symmetrical and long-range. They will know that, sooner or later, a Ukrainian response will reach any point in the Russian Federation that is a source of danger to the life of our state and our people," President Zelenskyy said.

According to The Guardian, Kyiv believes that demonstrating the Ukrainian military's capability to strike deep into Russia might prompt the Kremlin to reassess its strategy.

"Storm Shadow missiles were developed primarily by an Anglo-French collaboration and are made by European joint venture MBDA, which also has an Italian partner. But because some of its components are supplied by the US, the White House also has to agree to its use inside Russia. It has so far refused to do so, fearing an escalation of the conflict," The Guardian writes.

American officials told Politico that they believe Storm Shadow missiles and other long-range systems might lack precision over extended distances. They noted that Russian fighters, which have launched glide bombs into front-line areas of Ukraine, were mostly stationed outside the missile's range as a precaution.

"Although it can be argued that the drone attacks are a substitute, one strand of thinking in Kyiv is that by showing Russia it can strike deep inside the country with missiles, it could prompt a reassessment in the Kremlin. However, few believe President Vladimir Putin is interested in calling a halt," The Guardian notes.

The Guardian also reminds us that Ukraine has received the export version of Storm Shadow missiles from the UK and France, known in France as SCALP. These missiles have a range of about 190 miles (approximately 305 km), while both the UK and France possess domestic versions with double the range.

Moscow is located approximately 300 miles (about 482 km) from Ukraine’s northern border.

Permission to strike Russia with Western weapons

Politico notes that the US is reluctant to jeopardize its security for Ukraine. Granting permission for Ukrainian forces to strike deep into Russia could undermine any potential reset in relations between Washington and Moscow.

Earlier, the Pentagon stated that Ukraine has the right to strike Russian territory but only in specific border areas being shelled by Russians and within a limited distance.

For the past month, the US has not allowed Ukrainian forces to use Storm Shadow missiles against Russian territory.

For insights into what to expect from the Ukrainian counteroffensive in the Kursk region and its potential impact on the war, see the RBC-Ukraine article.