Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has accused Nigel Farage of “fawning over Putin” because Reform MPs failed to appear at a Commons debate about Ukraine. He said: “ Nigel Farage didn’t turn up to the debate in Parliament today. Nigel Farage is fawning over Putin. That’s not patriotism."

Poland was forced to scramble its aircraft after Russian air strikes targeting western Ukraine threatened the Nato country’s airspace. All of Ukraine was under air raid sirens from 3.30am GMT as Russia launched a wave of missiles and drones at Kyiv and other major cities.

Keir Starmer recalled meeting a Ukrainian patient in a burns unit who said 'if Ukraine fails, Europe will be next' as he battles to persuade Donald Trump not to sell out Kyiv

The Prime Minister said ‘extremely difficult and painful choices’ would be needed to reach the spending goal, including a cut to foreign aid

Readers are split on the prime minister’s proposals for a European ‘reassurance force’, debating Britain's military readiness, war escalation risks, and the UK’s duty to counter Russia

The leaders of France and Britain are both due to meet with President Trump this week. Approaches previously tried with him may no longer work.

At a press conference following the funding announcement, Sir Keir was repeatedly challenged on whether the new US president was effectively setting UK government policy  - given he has long called for European countries to boost defence spending.