UK MUST 'LEAD FROM FRONT'TO STOP 'RUSSIA MENACE'

PM Starmer warns 'future of Ukraine is vital for our national security'

- Martyn Brown

BRITAIN will "lead from the front" in protecting Ukraine to ensure our nation's security against the "Russian menace," Keir Starmer declared.

Failure to secure a lasting peace deal risked further emboldening Vladimir Putin, he warned. The Prime Minister's words won crossparty support from MPs.

But they came as Donald Trump claimed European countries had shown weakness towards Russia, and the US president launched a fresh assault on Volodymyr Zelensky.

Mr Starmer told MPs: "The future of Ukraine is vital for our national security. Russia is a menace in our waters and our skies. They have launched cyber attacks on our NHS, assassination attempts in our streets." The Prime Minister insisted: "Britain will lead from the front for the security of our continent, our country." However, Mr Trump, who is considering cancelling military aid to Ukraine, said Mr Zelensky's claim over the weekend that peace is "still very, very far away" is the "worst statement" he could have made.

The US president posted on his social media platform Truth Social, saying: "America will not put up with it for much longer! "It is what I was saying, this guy doesn't want there to be peace as long as he has America's backing." Mr Trump also said it was a mistake for Europe's leaders to say they cannot bring peace to Ukraine without US help.

He wrote: "Probably not a great statement to have been made in terms of a show of strength against Russia. What are they thinking?" And last night at a press confer ence for a huge microchip deal, Mr Trump accused Mr Zelensky of showing a lack of respect during their tempestuous Oval Office meeting. He said: "I just think he should be more appreciative, because this country has stuck with them through thick and thin.