Ukraine escalation imminent as US flags major shift and officials asks Penny Wong for more weapons

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken appeared to leave open the possibility that allies could let Ukraine use long-range missiles to strike inside Russia and said that he would listen intently to Volodymyr Zelensky when he visits the Ukrainian President with his UK counterpart in Kyiv on Friday.

The slight shift in the United States’ position came as Mr Blinken confirmed intelligence that said Iran had transferred short-range ballistic missiles to Russia that would likely be used “within weeks” to kill Ukrainians.

The UK, France and Germany banned all Iran Air flights to Europe in response and the US announced more sanctions.

The development came as Ukraine’s new foreign minister used his first phone call with Australia’s Penny Wong to urge her to send more military equipment that the Australian Army is planning on decommissioning.

This follows the Labor government’s decision last year to bury ageing helicopters instead of sending them to Ukraine.

Speaking in London on his first visit to the UK since the British Labour Party won power, Mr Blinken made the rare decision to pre-announce his planned travel to Ukraine.

He said he would head to Kyiv with David Lammy – who became Foreign Secretary in July – to reflect not just the Trans-Atlantic support that exists for Ukraine but also that of the Indo-Pacific.

High on the agenda of the visit was AUKUS, and Mr Blinken stressed the “interconnectedness” of the security threats facing both Europe and the Indo-Pacific.

But he was immediately pressed about the United States’ refusal to support Ukraine’s wish to take out military targets inside Russia that are used to launch deadly attacks on Ukrainians and everyday infrastructure, including their electricity grid.

Currently, the US bans Ukraine from using the long-range missiles the West supplies for offensive operations which Ukraine complains is giving Russia a major battlefield advantage.

For months the Biden Administration’s refusal has been attributed to fears of escalating the conflict but in London, Mr Blinken appeared to leave the door ajar to the possibility for the first time.

“One of the purposes of the trip that we’ll be taking together is to hear directly from the Ukrainian leadership … about exactly how the Ukrainians see their needs in this moment, towards what objectives, and what we can do to support those needs,” he told reporters.

“So all I can tell you is we’ll be listening intently to our Ukrainian partners.”

But he added that complicating factors in the decision included whether Ukrainians were adequately trained to use and maintain the platforms.

Mr Blinken said he and Mr Lammy would report back to their leaders, President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who are meeting in Washington on Friday.

Asked for the UK’s position on supporting the use of long-range missiles in Russia, Mr Lammy said it would be “quite wrong” to discuss operational details.

But the UK’s Defence Secretary John Healey told the House of Commons that Ukraine needed to strengthen its frontline in the east and hold the Russian territory of Kursk, which they’ve held since launching their surprise counter-offensive into Russia last month.

“The longer they hold Kursk, the better defended Ukraine will be,” Healey said.

Overnight, Ukraine pleaded with Australia for more weapons.

The country’s new Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha phoned Foreign Minister Penny Wong to thank her for the Bushmaster armoured vehicles that Australia has already donated.

“I stressed that, in addition to military aid, Ukraine is interested in decommissioned equipment,” Mr Sybiha said on X.

“Including a large number of Australian decommissioned armoured vehicles and other items.

“This is a win-win: partners save resources, while Ukraine improves its defence capabilities.”

Senator Wong said in a social media post: “Australia will not allow Russia to redraw the map by force.”

A spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade added: “We will continue to work with Ukraine and our partners to identify areas where we can best provide support.”

The Australian government has dodged saying whether it supports allowing Ukraine to use long-range missiles to attack Russian military targets.

But the Coalition has publicly urged the Biden Administration to change tack.

The Opposition’s foreign spokesman Simon Birmingham also said he supported donating more Australian aid to Kyiv including ageing Abrams tanks.

“There’s certainly more that Australia can and should be doing,” Mr Birmingham said, following his recent visit to Kyiv.

“Looking forward the Abrams tanks that are due to be retired present a similar opportunity for us to get on the front foot of talking to Ukraine about whether these assets can help them and give that support.”