FIGHTING TALK
Keir Starmer issues warning to Putin after ‘appalling’ hospital blitz as he jets to first Nato summit with wife Victoria
Starmer says his message is 'very clear'
SIR KEIR Starmer has issued a warning to Vladimir Putin after the "appalling" blitz on a children's hospital.
The British Prime Minister was speaking before departing for the Nato summit in Washington with his wife Lady Victoria today.
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The Labour leader, who took over Downing Street on Friday, emphasised: "My message is very, very clear."
He continued: "This Nato summit is an opportunity for allies to stand together, to strengthen their resolve, particularly in light of that appalling attack, against Russian aggression."
It comes after Russian missiles rocked multiple cities in Ukraine, including capital Kyiv where its largest children's hospital was hit, killing at least 41 civilians.
Putin, meanwhile, was today pictured with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi touring the new Atom pavilion at the All-Russia Exhibition Centre in Moscow.
It is a permanent feature designed to demonstrate Russia's main past and modern achievements of the nuclear power industry.
The gathering of leaders - beginning today - marks the 75th anniversary of the alliance and is being hosted by US President Joe Biden at the White House.
Lady Victoria appears to jump at chance to join 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 whisked off to America.
The Prime Minister's wife appeared to jump at the chance to join her husband on his first overseas trip to the NATO summit.
The mum-of-two will be thrust into the limelight as many spouses don't always accompany their partners on such trips. She is set to enjoy a series of special events put on for partners.
The pair will also attend a leaders' dinner at the White House tonight (Wednesday) hosted by US President Joe Biden.
Vic stayed mainly in the background during the election campaign as their son completed his GCSE exams.
She was seen on the night of the election victory kissing her husband as they celebrated the win.
She also stood by his side when he spoke for the first time as PM on the steps of Downing Street last Friday.
Sir Keir continued: "I'm pleased to have the early opportunity to confirm and reaffirm Labour's strong support, unshakeable support for Nato.
"We are a founding member, it's now the 75th anniversary but this is an opportunity to send that message in relation to Russian aggression wherever.
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"But that attack ... was appalling so that message is even more important than it was before."
Moment Keir Starmer speaks to Joe Biden in historic phone call as US President hails 'one a hell of a victory' for PM
Sir Keir's schedule will mean he will not join the Nato summit until the main working sessions begin on Wednesday, as Parliament reconvened today following the election.
He appeared in the Commons as PM for the first time as the formal process of re-electing Sir Lindsay Hoyle as Speaker took place.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia hit five cities in a "genocidal" attack this week.
He demanded 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 agenda for the Washington summit.
NATO SUMMIT
The president's press secretary said Mr 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 on advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific, reaching a ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza, Iran and the threat of Houthi rebels to commercial shipping.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said: "The leaders will also discuss furthering our bilateral cooperation in areas such as protecting advanced technologies and developing climate and clean energy solutions."
Defence Secretary John Healey has already visited Ukraine to promise more artillery guns and shells along with nearly 100 Brimstone missiles.
Britain will stand with Ukraine ‘for as long as it takes’
HARRY COLE in Odesa
PUTIN must be in no doubt “Britain under Labour” will still be “Ukraine’s firmest friend”, the new Defence Secretary has declared.
John Healey embraced hero President Volodymyr Zelensky in war torn Odessa yesterday as he vowed all additional military aid promised in April will be delivered within 100 days of Labour taking power “guaranteed”.
He insisted the new government is “totally committed” to hiking UK defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP but the “defence of Britain starts in Ukraine.”
Mr Healey hotfooted it to the Black Sea port straight from Sir Keir Starmer’s first Cabinet meeting as a clear signal to the Kremlin that far from backsliding, UK support would be “stepped up and sped up”.
He told The Sun: “At every stage since Putin launched his full scale invasion, we have backed all the military aid… the extra funding had our full backing in opposition, we will now deliver it in government.”
And in a direct message to the Russian tyrant, he warned: “Putin is looking for Western nations to lose patience to lose resolve, he must know that Britain under Labour will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes to win.
“We will confront Russian aggression and we will pursue him for his war crimes.”
During his first official visit to Ukraine, that came within 48 hours of his appointment, Mr 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” when he arrived at the Ministry of Defence on Friday “was to ask ‘what more can I do to help, how can we speed up what we have already announced?’”
With the prospect of a sceptical Mr Trump entering the White House after November's election, there is also likely to be a focus on getting European Nato members to spend more on defence.
The Government has an ambition to increase spending to 2.5% of gross domestic product, a measure of the size of the economy, when the nation's finances allow.
But during the election campaign Sir Keir was criticised by his Tory rival Rishi Sunak, who in Government had set out a plan to reach 2.5% by 2030.
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Ahead of the Nato summit, Sir Keir said it would be "an opportunity for me to have further discussions with some of the leaders I've already spoken to and some that I'm 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 chance to "make clear our unshakeable support of Nato".
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