Keir Starmer warns Ukraine victory plan will 'take time' – says war at a 'critical stage'

Sir Keir Starmer has said the war between Ukraine and Russia is at a "critical stage", as President Volodymyr Zelensky braces to deliver a "victory plan" at the United Nations.

The Russian war leader has kept details of the plan under wraps thus far, though is expected to deliver them to Biden, Trump and Harris among others in New York.

Speaking ahead of the major war milestone, Sir Keir warned that Ukraine will take up a significant swathe of time at the meeting, now the conflict is "at a critical stage".

He added: "Obviously, President Zelensky has a plan that he wants to walk through with all of us.

"The support for Ukraine is resolute. We supply quite a lot of capability already under the last government; we've increased that under this government - that's not a criticism of the last government - and we will always listen very carefully to what Ukraine says it needs by way of capability.

He added that the ongoing questions about whether Ukraine will be given permission to fire British Storm Shadow missiles from within its advances in Russia remain up for discussion this week.

The Prime Minister said he doesn't believe Zelenskyy's victory plan will be solely about the issue of Storm Shadow missiles, but about the "strategic, overarching route for Ukraine to find a way through this and succeed against Russian aggression."

At a briefing last Friday, President Zelenskyy said that the victory plan will be a "bridge to strengthening Ukraine".

The proposal is understood to include ensuring Ukraine's place in the global "security architecture," boosting its weapons capabilities, and securing economic development.

He will travel to the UN General Assembly to speak on Wednesday, before jetting to Washington DC to meet with President Biden and other members of Congress.

The issue of Storm Shadow Missiles remains unresolved between Britain, the US and other European allies.

The weapons have been used by Ukraine to fire at Russia from within Ukraine, however, the besieged country believes it can make further inroads if allowed to fire them at Russia from within the Russian territory it has captured in recent weeks.

Vladimir Putin has since issued a chilling warning to the West that letting Kyiv proceed with the plan would be an act of war by NATO against Russia.

He warned: "If this decision is made, it will mean nothing other than the direct participation of NATO countries - the United States, European countries - in the war in Ukraine."

"This is their direct participation and this already, of course, significantly changes the very essence, the very nature of the conflict.

"This would mean that NATO countries - the United States and European countries - are at war with Russia.

"And if that is the case then, bearing in mind the change in the very essence of this conflict, we will take appropriate decisions based on the threats that will be posed to us."

While many of the long-range missiles are made in Britain, the Government requires permission from European partners and the US to allow their use in Russia, partly because they rely on a US guidance system to evade Russian jamming.

Sir Keir failed to resolve the issue when he travelled to the White House earlier this month, alongside Foreign Secretary David Lammy.

This week, Mr Lammy said it is a "critical time for nerve and guts and patience" for those who stand with Ukraine.