Trudeau supports Ukraine striking Russia as U.S., U.K. leaders talk weapons

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday that Ukraine should be allowed to strike within Russian territory, as his American and British counterparts meet in Washington to discuss whether to lift restrictions on long-range weapons supplied to Kyiv.

Ukraine has been pushing for months for permission to use the weapons, including U.S.-supplied ATACMS and British Storm Shadow missiles, to hit targets deeper inside Russia to prevent Russian strikes that have battered Ukrainian civilian infrastructure. NATO members have been reluctant, not wanting to escalate or expand the war.

Russian President Vladimir Putin this week repeated his often-used threat that lifting the long-range weapons restrictions would draw NATO into a direct war with Moscow.

Asked about Putin’s warning Friday, Trudeau said ending or continuing the war in Ukraine is Putin’s decision alone to make.

“Canada fully supports Ukraine using long-range weaponry to prevent and interdict Russia’s continued ability to degrade Ukrainian civilians (and) infrastructure, and mostly to kill innocent civilians in their unjust war,” Trudeau told reporters at a news conference in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Que.

“It was (Putin’s) choice … to start this conflict, and it could be his choice to end it tomorrow.”

Trudeau spoke ahead of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House Friday afternoon, where the topic of long-range weapons for Ukraine was expected to be discussed.

Two U.S. officials familiar with discussions about the weapons told the Associated Press they believe Starmer will seek Biden’s approval to allow Ukraine to use British Storm Shadow missiles for expanded strikes in Russia. Biden’s approval is needed because Storm