Biden, Starmer to discuss long-range arms for Ukraine amid Putin's war threat

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer, left, and Foreign Secretary David Lammy step from their aircraft as they arrive at Joint Base Andrews, Md., ahead of talks with U.S. President Joe Biden on resolving the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024. (AP Photo)

U.S. President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday discuss whether to let Kiev use long-range missiles against Russia, in the two allies' likely last meeting before an election that could upend U.S. policy on Ukraine as Russian President Vladimir Putin warns giving Ukraine the green light would mean NATO was "at war" with Moscow.

 Starmer's visit comes with Kiev pushing London and Washington to lift the restriction and a warning from Putin.

British media reported that Biden, who is wary of provoking a nuclear conflict, was ready to let Ukraine deploy British and French missiles using U.S. technology but not U.S.-made missiles themselves.

Responding to Putin's warning, Starmer told U.K. media travelling with him that "Russia started this conflict. Russia illegally invaded Ukraine. Russia can end this conflict straight away."

In a sign of increasing tensions, Russia's FSB security service announced on Friday that the accreditation of six British diplomats had been withdrawn.

"As a measure of reprisals to the multiple unfriendly acts of London, the Russian foreign ministry ... has withdrawn the accreditation of six employees from the political department of the British embassy in Moscow," it said.

A statement accused them of carrying out "subversive activities and intelligence" gathering.

The talks come at a time when Biden is on his way out of office and November's U.S. election is a toss-up between Democrat Kamala...