Keir Starmer’s missile bravado could jeopardise Nato’s careful balancing act in Ukraine

Anyone who watched this month’s BBC series on Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, could only admire his courage and will to win. He is a truly impressive leader. But after more than two years, Ukraine’s war has mutated from one of national independence into a proxy conflict, economic and military, of the west against Russia. After its initial defeat of Russia’s invasion, Ukraine has been able, with considerable outside help, to resist Putin’s push westwards, but that has been its limit. As throughout history, Russia’s resources are ultimately overwhelming.