UK missiles offer may help Ukraine - but they are not what Zelensky needs most

The United Kingdom is preparing to share blueprints for its British-French designed Storm Shadow cruise missiles with Ukraine, following a similar move by France. This move aims to help Ukraine produce the weapon domestically and signal Western nations' willingness to share expertise and knowledge to aid Ukraine's defense. However, the blueprints alone are not expected to significantly change the course of the war.

Both the Storm Shadow and SCALP missiles have already been provided to Ukraine and have been used to hit military targets inside Russia. These missiles, developed in the 1990s, are expensive, costing around £1 million each, and rely on complex global supply chains. Even with the blueprints, Ukraine may face difficulties in sourcing components and producing the missiles, as it could take months or years to replicate the production process.