Ukraine-Russia war latest: Moscow threatens to ‘melt’ Kyiv as West delays on long-range missile decision

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has said Russia could destroy Kyiv in response to the use of Western long-range missiles by Ukraine.

Mr Medvedev said Moscow already had formal grounds to use nuclear weapons since Ukraine‘s incursion into Russia’s Kursk region, but could instead use some new weapon technologies to reduce Kyiv to “a giant melted spot” when its patience runs out.

It comes as UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer met with US president Joe Biden at the White House where they discussed the conflict. There was no announcement on the use of British and US long-range missiles by Ukraine.

MrZelensky has pleaded with allies for months to allow his military to fire long-range US ATACMS and British Storm Shadow missiles at Russian targets used to launch devastating daily attacks on Ukraine.

Putin warned Nato will be directly at war with Moscow if the US and UK allow Kyiv to use the weapons.

Meanwhile, Russia and Ukraine have exchanged prisoners of war, with each side releasing 103 people, the Interfax news agency said citing Russia’s defence ministry.

Andrew Feinberg  looks at how UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer could soon face a president with a drastically different view of Ukraine’s future as the new PM meets with US President Joe Biden in Washington, DC

Andrew Feinberg looks at how UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer could soon face a president with a drastically different view of Ukraine’s future as the new PM meets with US President Joe Biden in Washington, DC

Russia and Ukraine have exchanged prisoners of war, with each side releasing 103 people, the Interfax news agency said citing Russia’s defence ministry.

The ministry said the Russian soldiers exchanged on Saturday had been taken prisoner in Russia’s