Keir Starmer denies we’re at battle with Russia regardless of Putin claims we at the moment are concerned

Keir Starmer has insisted the UK “is not at war” with Russia despite Vladimir Putin threatening to unleash a new kind of missile on Britain.

Russia has claimed the UK is now “directly involved” in the war with Ukraine. The despot President threatened to strike back after British-made Storm Shadow missiles were fired into Russian territory on Wednesday.

It comes after Putin this week changed the rules on using nuclear weapons as the threat of an all-out war grows. Asked about Putin’s comments, the PM told BBC Radio Bristol: “No, we’re not at war. But Ukraine certainly is, because Ukraine has been invaded by Russia, and that war has now been going on for just over 1,000 days.

“That’s a thousand days of aggression from Russia and a thousand days of sacrifice for Ukraine. And that is why we’ve said consistently that we stand by Ukraine.

“We cannot allow Putin to win this war.” He dismissed Putin’s “irresponsible rhetoric” and called for him to back down, stating: “This war could end today if Putin stopped being the aggressor.”

In a TV address on Thursday, Putin warned western allies who supplied long-range missiles to Ukraine that their military bases could be targeted with Oreshnik missiles. The Russian leader said: “We believe that we have the right to use our weapons against military facilities of the countries that allow to use their weapons against our facilities.

“And in case of escalation of aggressive actions, we will respond resolutely in a mirror way.” Putin said Russia would issue advance warnings before strikes on other countries to allow civilians to evacuate to safety.

And Russia’s UK ambassador Andrei Kelin told Sky News: “Absolutely, Britain and UK is now directly involved in this war, because this firing cannot happen without NATO staff, British staff as well.”