Starmer says 'Europe must be ready to fight Russia' as WW3 tensions rise

Sir Keir Starmer has said that Europe 'must be ready to fight' Russia 'if necessary' as it faces a growing threat.

Tensions of a 'World War III' have been speculated for quite some time now, with things heightening as 'Russia has proved its appetite for aggression'.

During his speech, the prime minister told the Munich Security Conference this morning (14 February): "Now we feel the solidity of peace, the very ground that we stand on softening under our feet.

"It’s the job of leaders to be ahead of these seismic shapes, yet that is against the grain of history."

Starmer continued that after getting a peace deal for Ukraine 'Russia's rearmament would only accelerate' and said that 'we must answer this threat in full'.

Starmer says leaders mustn't dither as 'Russia has proved its appetite for aggression' (Vyacheslav PROKOFYEV / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)

"To break the convention of a thousand speeches, we are not at a crossroads. The road ahead is straight and it is clear. We must build our hard power, because that is the currency of the age," Starmer continued.

"We must be able to deter aggression, and, yes, if necessary, we must be ready to fight."

Earlier at the conference, as a number of matters were discussed, the European Commission President told the Munich Security Conference: "Europe needs to step up and has to take on its responsibility."

Ursula von der Leyen said it has had 'some shock therapy' from the US and that 'some lines have been crossed that cannot be uncrossed anymore'.

She added: "An independent Europe is a strong Europe, and a strong Europe makes for a stronger transatlantic alliance.”

Starmer also announced that the UK will deploy its carrier strike group of warships to the Arctic this year.

As the prime minister insisted the UK would honour the Nato commitment to defend its allies if called upon, he assured members it would 'come to your aid'.

Starmer assured the UK would come the aid of Nato members (Suzanne Plunkett - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

And his deployment of warships to the Arctic comes as Donald Trump insists he wants to take over Greenland - a territory of Denmark.

"I can announce today that the UK will deploy our carrier strike group to the North Atlantic and the High North this year, led by HMS Prince of Wales, operating alongside the US, Canada and other Nato allies in a powerful show of our commitment to Euro-Atlantic security," Starmer said.

He also said Nato can only be preserved 'if we change and strengthen the European dimension' as he added: "Europe hasn’t done enough for its own defence and security for many years, the conflict in Ukraine has flushed that out, shown it to be the reality, and it falls to us as leaders to recognise that, to change and strengthen Europe."