Keir Starmer issues major update after NATO boss gives fresh WW3 warning

NATO chief said that the alliance is Russia’s next target

NATO chief Mark Rutte said on Thursday that Europe must be ready for war on the scale endured by “our grandparents or great-grandparents”.

In a speech in Berlin, he urged member states to do more to prepare for war.

“We are Russia's next target. And we are already in harm's way”, he warned.

“I think we've been clear in many months that Russia's war in Ukraine affects our national security as well - whether that's things like undersea cables or issues such as that”, No10 said in response to Rutte’s remarks.

Starmer insisted that European leaders and US President Donald Trump want the same thing, which is a “just and lasting” peace, as he chaired a meeting of the so-called 'Coalition of the Willing'.

The coalition, which is led by the UK and France, has vowed to support Ukraine and deter Russia if a ceasefire is reached.

“The Prime Minister co-chaired a virtual meeting of the Coalition of the Willing this afternoon. The Prime Minister updated allies on this week’s engagements with other international partners and on the continued intensive work on the US-led peace plan”, a Downing Street spokeswoman said.

She added that “they all agreed this is a pivotal moment for Ukraine, its people, and for the security we all share across the Euro-Atlantic region. President Zelensky updated the group on the continued Russian bombardment of Ukraine, killing innocent civilians and destroying critical infrastructure.”

“You've seen our uptick in defence spending and the commitment we've made there, and the Prime Minister's words on importance of NATO overall.”