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 Ukraine-Russia war latest: Blinken and Lammy in Kyiv for key talks as Moscow launches Kursk counterattack.

Ukrainian prime minister Deny Shmyhal told David Lammy early this afternoon that he ‘hoped’ the UK and US would green-light Kyiv’s use of long-range missiles to target deeper inside Russia.

David Lammy and his US counterpart Anthony Blinken have arrived in Kyiv for crucial talks as president Joe Biden reveals he is considering lifting restrictions on Ukraine’s use of long-range weapons to target sites deep inside Russia.

The two countries’ top diplomats arrived in the Ukrainian capital this morning after announcing the joint trip, the first of its kind in almost a decade, during Blinken’s visit to London on Tuesday.

They are due to meet Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, who has consistently asked Kyiv’s western partners to allow them to use donated UK and US long-range missiles on targets in the Russian mainland.

During an initial meeting between Lammy and Ukrainian prime minister Denys Shmyhal, the PM urged the foreign secretary to green-light the use of long-range missiles.

The White House has reportedly been hesitant to give the green light to Kyiv over fears Russia could then escalate the conflict.

It comes as footage appeared to show a column of Russian tanks and armoured vehicles advancing towards the western flank of Ukraine’s troops in the Kursk region.