MISSILE NEWS
UK says allies should boost Ukraine's long-range missile reach
UK says allies should boost Ukraine's long-range missile reach
By Joe JACKSON, Peter HUTCHISON
London (AFP) Oct 24, 2025
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday urged allies to "finish the job" on Russian assets as he told Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky in London there was more that they could do to bolster Kyiv's long-range missile capability.

Starmer met Zelensky at his London residence before holding talks with Ukraine's key backers.

"I think there's further we can do on capability, particularly... long-range capability, and of course, the vital work for coalition of the willing when it comes to the security guarantees that are necessary," the UK leader said.

On Russia's sovereign assets he said he would like to see countries finish what had been started and unlock funding to support Ukraine.

"The UK is ready to move in tandem with the EU (European Union) to drive this forward as fast as possible, to get those funds flowing to Ukraine," he said.

The United States and EU have both announced new sanctions this week on Russian energy, aimed at crippling its war economy.

EU leaders also took steps towards funding Ukraine's defence for another two years, although they stopped short of approving a mammoth "reparations loan" backed by frozen Russian assets.

Starmer hugged Zelensky as the Ukrainian president arrived in Downing Street telling him this week had seen "huge steps forward".

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and the Netherlands' Dick Schoof were in London while other leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron joined online.

Earlier Friday Zelensky held after another meeting with Britain's King Charles III -- their third this year.

- Belgian objection -

The latest diplomatic activity followed Zelensky's visit to Washington last week, when President Donald Trump rebuffed his pleas for long-range Tomahawk missiles to hit targets deep inside Russia.

The near four-year war continues to grind on despite US and European efforts to force Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table, with Moscow battering Ukraine's energy grid this week in deadly drone and missile attacks.

The meeting came a day after EU leaders tasked the European Commission to move ahead with options for funding Ukraine for two more years, leaving the door open for a 140-billion-euro ($162 billion) "reparations loan".

The EU froze around 200 billion euros of Russian central bank assets after Moscow's tanks rolled into Ukraine, and the European Commission has proposed using the funds to provide a huge loan to Kyiv -- without seizing them outright.

But the plan has faced strong objections from Belgium, where the bulk of the frozen Russian assets are held, over the legal consequences.

The broadly worded conclusions of Thursday's summit in Brussels -- adopted by all member states except Hungary -- did not mention the loan directly, instead inviting the commission "to present, as soon as possible, options for financial support".

- Failure in Alaska -

Zelensky nonetheless welcomed the outcome as a signal of "political support" for the notion of using Russian assets to keep Kyiv in the fight.

He has been pleading for weeks for more long-range weapons, hoping to capitalise on Trump's growing frustration with Putin after a summit in Alaska failed to yield a breakthrough.

But the Ukrainian leader left Washington empty-handed last week as Trump seemed to eye a fresh diplomatic breakthrough instead, on the back of the Gaza ceasefire deal.

The UK and France already supply Ukraine with Storm Shadow and Scalp long-range missiles, while Ukraine also produces its own Flamingo and Neptune missiles.

Kyiv is particularly keen to get the German equivalent Taurus missiles, a move Berlin has long resisted over fears that it would cause tensions with Russia to further escalate.

On Friday, Starmer also announced the "acceleration" of a programme to manufacture air defence missiles, which aims to supply Ukraine with more than 5,000 such weapons.

Around 140 "lightweight-multirole missiles" will be delivered to Ukraine this winter, according to Downing Street.

Related Links
Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com
All about missiles at SpaceWar.com

Tweet

MISSILE NEWS
UK to urge more long-range missiles for Ukraine at London summit
London (AFP) Oct 23, 2025
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will urge European leaders to boost long-range missile supplies to Kyiv at a London summit on Friday which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to attend. Starmer is expected to call on allies to "step up the gifting of long-range capabilities to ensure Ukraine can build on its success of this week," his office said in a statement ahead of the meeting of the so-called "coalition of the willing". NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Denmark's Prime Minis ... read more

MISSILE NEWS
SpaceX launches 21 satellites for U.S. military from California

Shield or Spark? The U.S. Golden Dome and the New Missile Arms Race

Sierra Space clears design milestone for missile tracking satellites in SDA Tranche 2

France bets on 'Nostradamus' radar to spot missiles

MISSILE NEWS
UK to urge more long-range missiles for Ukraine at London summit

Ukraine's Zelensky leaves D.C. without Tomahawk missiles he sought

'Wonder weapon'? Five things about US Tomahawks coveted by Ukraine

Tomahawk missiles main topic for Zelensky-Trump meet: Ukraine official

MISSILE NEWS
UK military to get new powers to shoot down drones

Drone attack hits Khartoum airport area ahead of reopening: eyewitnesses

EU says drone defences not 'optional' in push to face Russia

Drone attack hits Khartoum airport area ahead of reopening

MISSILE NEWS
Airbus, Thales, Leonardo sign deal to create satellite powerhouse

Iridium and T-Mobile expand PNT deployment under U.S. DOT resilience program

Snapdragon Mission Tactical Radio gains Iridium data for global L band connectivity

Terran Orbital finalizes Tranche 1 satellite bus delivery for Lockheed Martin

MISSILE NEWS
Artillery shell detonates over California highway, striking patrol car

Lockheed Martin to Develop IFPC 2nd Interceptor for U.S. Army Air and Missile Defense

Vance event honoring Marines criticized as a 'dangerous' show of force

Australia must deploy 'unconventional' means to deter China, Russia: APSI

MISSILE NEWS
New Japan PM to advance defence spending target: reports

British troops part of US-led mission in Israel: defence ministry

Idea of German 'draft lottery' sparks govt row

EU reaches agreement on plan backing defence industry

MISSILE NEWS
Lithuania slams airspace incursion denied by Russia

Putin seeks 'dialogue' with Trump as EU seeks to shore up Ukraine as US wavers

Zelensky urges allies against appeasing Russia after US trip

Trump says Xi could have 'big influence' on Putin; as high-stakes meeting with Xi looms

MISSILE NEWS
Novel technique reveals true behavior of next-generation MXenes

Unique phase of water revealed in nanoscale confinement