Danger to Moscow, St. Petersburg: Ukraine can strike with long-range missiles

Russia will only consider negotiations with Ukraine when it believes Kyiv is in a position to “threaten Moscow and St. Petersburg”. The Guardian reported this, citing sources.
The article notes that Kyiv is asking the West for permission to strike deep inside Russia with long-range Storm Shadow missiles. Ukrainian officials believe that using these Anglo-French weapons in a “demonstration attack” could show Russian authorities that military sites near Moscow might be vulnerable to direct hits.
“The thinking, according to a senior government official, is that Russia will consider negotiating only if it believes Ukraine had the ability 'to threaten Moscow and St Petersburg.' This is a high-risk strategy, however, and does not so far have the support of the U.S.,” the article reads.
It was noted that Ukraine has been lobbying for months to be allowed to use Storm Shadow missiles against targets inside Russia, but with little success.
“Nevertheless, as the Ukrainian army struggles on the eastern front, there is a growing belief that its best hope lies in a counterattack,” The Guardian added.
Recall, Storm Shadow missiles were developed primarily by an Anglo-French collaboration and are made by European joint venture MBDA, which also has an Italian partner. But because some of its components are supplied by the US, the White House also has to agree to its use inside Russia. It has so far refused to do so, fearing an escalation of the conflict. US officials told news website Politico that they believed Storm Shadow and other long-range missiles might not be accurate enough over great distances, and that the Russian jet fighters that launched glide bombs into Ukrainian frontline areas were largely based out of range of the missiles, as a precaution. John Foreman, a former UK defence attache to Russia and Ukraine, said Kyiv “should not get sucked into a sideshow” by fixating on possible use of Storm Shadow and should instead focus on defending the Donbas.
Russia is considered to believe it can break Ukraine though attrition, and is estimated by Kyiv to have about 600,000 troops inside the country. Capturing Pokrovsk in the Donbas ahead of the US presidential election in November would be designed to demonstrate to a new occupant of the White House that Ukraine was fighting a losing battle.