The UK's leader and Foreign Minister David Lammy are both in Washington DC to pressure the White House to provide Ukraine with increased military capabilities.
Earlier, both US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his British counterpart hinted at easing restrictions on how long-distance drones can be used against Russian targets.
We stand firm in ensuring they have what they need to succeed, said Blinken to reporters in Kiev during a meeting with Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrij Sybiha on Wednesday.
Storm Shadow
Ahead of Friday's meeting, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyj said that "Western countries are afraid to even say that 'they are working'" on the possibility of giving the country the right to use long-distance drones.
Both Paris and London have, however, largely said that they are willing to give Ukraine the right to attack targets deep within Russian territory. The decision concerns the Storm Shadow drone, which has been donated by the two countries. Ukraine is also asking to use so-called Atacms drones, with a range of up to 300 miles.
Diplomatic sources in Washington, Paris, and London report that permission is part of giving Ukraine an advantage in potential peace talks – and that such talks are increasingly becoming a necessity, writes The New York Times.
Gaining Kiev
"Diplomats in the West are discussing what type of defense alliance they can promise Ukraine so that the country can reach a settlement" with Moscow that would benefit Kiev, writes the newspaper.
President Biden has been hesitant to directly challenge Moscow, with the risk of escalating the war beyond Ukraine's borders. Reports of Russia receiving new deliveries of drones and drones from Iran strengthen the arguments in Washington for expanded possibilities for Ukraine to use long-distance drones.
On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that giving Ukraine the green light to strike targets deeper within Russia with advanced weapons would mean war with NATO. "It would fundamentally change the conflict," according to Putin.
