SIR KEIR Starmer has issued a warning to Vladimir Putin following the “appalling” raid on a children’s hospital.
The British Prime Minister was speaking today before leaving for the NATO summit in Washington with his wife Lady Victoria.
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The Labor leader, who took over Downing Street on Friday, emphasized: “My message is very, very clear.”
He continued: “This NATO summit is an opportunity for allies to come together, to strengthen their resolve, especially in light of this terrible attack, against Russian aggression.”
It comes after Russian missiles rocked several cities in Ukraine, including the capital Kiev, where the largest children’s hospital was hit, killing at least 41 civilians.
Meanwhile, Putin was photographed today with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting the new Atom pavilion at the All-Russia Exhibition Center in Moscow.
It is a permanent feature designed to demonstrate Russia’s major past and modern achievements in the nuclear energy industry.
The leaders’ meeting – which begins today – marks the 75th anniversary of the alliance and is hosted by the President of the United States Joe Biden at the White House.
Lady Victoria appears to jump at the chance to join her husband
BY RYAN SABEY on board the PM’s plane
VIC Starmer holds hands with Sir Keir on the steps of the plane ready to be flown to America.
The prime minister’s wife appeared to jump at the opportunity to join her husband on his first trip abroad to the NATO summit.
The mother of two will be the center of attention, as many spouses don’t always accompany their partners on these trips. She is set to enjoy a series of special events organized for partners.
The pair will also attend a leaders’ dinner at the White House this evening (Wednesday), hosted by US President Joe Biden.
Vic mostly took a backseat during the election campaign while his son completed his GCSE exams.
She was seen on the night of her election victory kissing her husband as they celebrated their victory.
She also stood by his side when he spoke for the first time as prime minister on the steps of Downing Street last Friday.
Sir Keir continued: “I am pleased to have the initial opportunity to confirm and reaffirm the Labor Party’s strong support, unwavering support for NATO.
“We are a founding member, we are now celebrating the 75th anniversary, but this is an opportunity to send that message regarding Russian aggression, wherever that may be.
“But that attack… was terrible, so the message is even more important than it was before.”
Sir Keir’s schedule will mean he will not join the NATO summit until the main work sessions begin on Wednesday, when Parliament reconvenes today following the election.
He appeared in the House of Commons as Prime Minister for the first time during the formal process of Sir Lindsay Hoyle’s re-election as Speaker.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia struck five cities in a “genocidal” attack this week.
He demanded that Moscow answer “for all its crimes” against people, children and humanity.
His chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, accused Russia of “deliberately targeting” children.
Support for Ukraine will be at the top of the Washington summit agenda.
NATO SUMMIT
The president’s press secretary said Biden will “underscore the importance of continuing to strengthen the special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom.”
The leaders will also have the opportunity to discuss UK-US cooperation in advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific, reaching a ceasefire and hostage release agreement in Gaza, Iran and the Houthi rebels’ threat to transport commercial shipping.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said: “The leaders will also discuss deepening our bilateral cooperation in areas such as protecting advanced technologies and developing climate and clean energy solutions.”
Defense Secretary John Healey has already visited Ukraine to promise more artillery weapons and ammunition, along with almost 100 Brimstone missiles.
Britain will stand by Ukraine ‘as long as necessary’
HARRY COLE in Odessa
PUTIN must have no doubt that “Britain under the Labor Party” will continue to be “Ukraine’s staunchest friend”, declared the new Defense Secretary.
John Healey yesterday embraced war-torn Odessa hero President Volodymyr Zelensky as he promised that all additional military aid promised in April will be delivered within 100 days of Labour’s “guaranteed” takeover of power.
He insisted that the new government is “fully committed” to increasing UK defense spending to 2.5% of GDP, but that “Britain’s defense starts in Ukraine”.
Healey arrived at the Black Sea port shortly after Sir Keir Starmer’s first Cabinet meeting, as a clear signal to the Kremlin that, far from backpedaling, UK support would be “intensified and accelerated”.
He told The Sun: “At every stage since Putin launched his full-scale invasion, we have supported all military aid… the extra funding has had our full support in the opposition, we will now hand it over to the government.”
And in a direct message to the Russian tyrant, he warned: “Putin expects Western nations to lose patience and lose resolve, he must know that Britain under the Labor Party will stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes to win.” .
“We will stand up to Russian aggression and we will pursue him for his war crimes.”
During his first official visit to Ukraine, 48 hours after his appointment, Healey said it was time to “step up” the “special leadership” Britain has already shown since Putin invaded Ukraine in 2022.
Britain has pledged up to £3 billion in assistance to Ukraine this year, including desperately needed missiles, ammunition and vehicles.
He said his “first action” upon arriving at the Ministry of Defense on Friday “was to ask ‘what else can I do to help, how can we accelerate what we have already announced?’”
With the prospect of a skeptical Trump entering the White House after the November elections, there is also likely to be a focus on getting European NATO members to spend more on defense.
The Government has the ambition to increase spending to 2.5% of gross domestic product, a measure of the size of the economy, when the country’s finances allow.
But during the election campaign, Sir Keir was criticized by his Conservative rival Rishi Sunakthat the Government outlined a plan to reach 2.5% by 2030.
Ahead of the NATO summit, Sir Keir said it would be “an opportunity to have further discussions with some of the leaders I have already spoken to and some I am due to speak to”.
At his first press conference as prime minister on Saturday, he said it was an “important summit” for the transatlantic alliance and gave him the opportunity to “make clear our unwavering support for NATO”.
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
