Ukraine-Russia war latest: Lammy and Blinken in Kyiv for key talks as Moscow launches Kursk counterattack

DavidLammy and his US counterpart Anthony Blinken have arrived in Kyiv for crucial talks as president Joe Biden reveals he is considering lifting restrictions on Ukraine’s use of long-range weapons to target sites deep inside Russia.

The two countries’ top diplomats arrived in the Ukrainian capital this morning after announcing the joint trip, the first of its kind, during Blinken’s visit to London on Tuesday.

They are due to meet Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, who has consistently asked Kyiv’s western partners to allow them to use donated UK and US long-range missiles on targets in the Russian mainland.

The White House has reportedly been hesitant to give the green light to Kyiv over fears Russia could then escalate the conflict.

It comes as footage appeared to show a column of Russian tanks and armoured vehicles advancing towards the western flank of Ukraine’s troops in the Kursk region.

Ukraine launched the surprise cross-border incursion last month and have held a chunk of Russian territory since.

Ukrainian military bloggers suggested Russian airborne units had recently crossed the River Seym west of the Ukrainian troops despite Kyiv’s forces blowing up three permanent bridges.

The Kremlin said on Wednesday that Russia would roll out what it called an appropriate response if the United States allowed Ukraine to strike deep inside Russia with ATACMs missiles.

US President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that his administration was “working that out now” when asked if the US would lift restrictions on Ukraine‘s use of long range weapons such as ATACMs in its war against Russia.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters it looked like Washington has already decided to go ahead with such a decision.

The missile