Watch: Biden hosts Starmer at White House

Watch as Joe Biden hosts Keir Starmer at the White House on Friday 13 September.

The prime minister has flown to the US for talks with the US President and has already backed Ukraine’s right to defend itself after Russia’s Vladimir Putin suggested his country would be “at war” with Nato if the west allows long-range weapons to be used against it.

Sir Keir went on to say the UK does not “seek any conflict with Russia” before adding: “That’s not our intention in the slightest.”

On Thursday, Mr Putin said allowing long-range strikes “would mean that Nato countries, the United States, and European countries are at war with Russia.”

“If this is so, then, bearing in mind the change in the very essence of this conflict, we will make appropriate decisions based on the threats that will be created for us,” he added.

Ukraine had issued a plea for restrictions to be lifted on using Western weaponry against Russian targets and the issue is likely to be discussed by Sir Keir in a meeting with Mr Biden at the White House on Friday.