Why Ukraine wants to use Western long-range missiles inside Russia

Ukraine is pushing for permission from its Western partners to use the long-range missiles they have provided to strike targets deep inside Russia, as Ukrainian forces struggle to hold back Russian advances in eastern Ukraine.

Kyiv officials argue the weapons are vital to weaken Russia's ability to strike Ukraine and force it to move its strike capabilities further from the border.

Russia has warned that it would consider allowing such long-range strikes an act of war, and Ukraine's Western allies are wary of antagonizing the country with the world's largest nuclear arsenal.

The issue is likely to weigh heavily on White House meetings Friday between President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, as well as with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later this month.

WHAT ARE THESE WEAPONS?

The long-range missiles include systems like the British-led Storm Shadow and the similar French-made SCALP or the U.S.-made Army Tactical Missile System, ATACMS.

Ukraine is ramping up its own domestic programs to develop long-range weapons, including drones already capable of hitting targets deep inside Russian territory. The Western missiles, however, would offer greater precision and a far bigger destructive capacity.

The air-launched Storm Shadow and the ground-launched ATACMS are already being used by Ukraine to carry out pinpoint strikes on military installations and strategic infrastructure inside its Russian-occupied territories – but not on Russian soil.

Germany has long refused to send its long-range TAURUS missiles, citing concerns over international escalation.

HOW WOULD THEY HELP UKRAINE?

Ukraine sees the ability to use long-range missiles behind enemy lines as a game-changer, allowing it to target