UNITED FRONT

President and PM rebut Putin's threat | Zelensky's longer-range missiles plea | Gaza on agenda but no Kamala

- ASHLEY COWBURN

KEIR Starmer met with Joe Biden last night as Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his frustration at restrictions on the use of missiles against Russia.

The Prime Minister and US President put on a united front at the Oval Office, just 24 hours after Vladimir Putin issued a chilling threat to Nato countries.

The Russian dictator said lifting restrictions on Ukraine's use of long-range missiles to strike targets inside Russia would "change the very nature of the conflict". In a dramatic escalation of rhetoric, he added: "It would mean that Nato countries are at war with Russia."

The remark was dismissed by Mr Starmer, who said Putin had started the bloody invasion of Ukraine and could "end this conflict straight away".

Last night the PM held a oneon-one meeting with Mr Biden in the White House before strategic talks with officials.

Mr Starmer was joined by Foreign Secretary David Lammy, National Security Adviser Tim Barrow and UK ambassador to the US, Dame Karen Pierce.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was expected to join Mr Biden.

Mr Starmer and Mr Biden were also expected to discuss the conflict in the Middle East, and any progress that can be made towards a ceasefire in Gaza, where over 41,000 Palestinians have died.