North Korean troops on Ukraine's border shows Putin is 'desperate' says Starmer

Keir Starmer met with Volodymyr Zelensky astatine the European Political Community acme successful Hungary, wherever helium expressed 'deep concern' astir North Korean troops connected the Ukrainian border

Keir Starmer has said the increasing fig of North Korean troops connected Ukraine's borders is simply a motion of Vladimir Putin's "desperation".

He made the remarks astatine a gathering with President Volodymyr Zelensky. A Downing Street spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister expressed his heavy interest astatine the increasing fig of North Korean troops connected the Ukrainian border.

"He said this was impervious of Putin’s expanding desperation. He said the UK volition proceed to basal with Ukraine for arsenic agelong arsenic it takes for Russia to withdraw."

The meeting, astatine the European Political Community acme successful Hungary came amid increasing uncertainty aft Donald Trump's US Presidential predetermination win. The Republican has claimed helium wants to extremity the warfare "within a day".

But it's sparked speculation astir whether doing this would mean imposing bid with favourable presumption for Vladimir Putin. Mr Trump has refused to explicitly backmost a Ukrainian victory.

Mr Starmer told Mr Zelensky astatine the European Political Community acme successful Hungary: ""As you know, our enactment for Ukraine is unwavering. And I powerfully judge that not lone should it beryllium unwavering, but we request to measurement up, and I was precise pleased to beryllium capable to accidental that (today).

"It's precise important that we spot this through. It's precise important that we basal with you." The Ukrainian person replied: "We're precise thankful. We're precise arrogant that we person specified bilateral relations betwixt our nations.

"Thank you for sticking with america each done this pugnacious period." Nato caput wide Mark Rutte said Mr Trump's archetypal word had encouraged Europe to walk much connected defence but "we request to bash more".

He said the US indispensable beryllium wary of the information posed by Russia's confederation with North Korea, China and Iran.

"If Russia would beryllium palmy successful Ukraine, you would person an emboldened Russia astatine our border, having gained onshore mass, having gained the immense defence unit of Ukraine, but besides the ingenuity of the Ukrainian people," helium said.

"So that volition beryllium a menace not lone to the European portion of Nato, but besides to the United States.

"And that's why, collectively, we person to enactment not lone connected the menace of Russia, but besides the information that these 4 countries enactment together, and that now, precise soon, we volition spot that besides the US itself is nether menace from these newest technological developments acknowledgment to Russia giving its latest insights and technology to the North Koreans."