THE British government must push for de-escalation and dialogue not “militarisation and threats of war” to resolve the escalating crisis in Ukraine, Labour MP Diane Abbott has warned. 

Addressing a Stop the War online rally against Nato expansion on Thursday evening, the former shadow home secretary said: “The destabilisation in the entire region comes from the continued eastwards expansion of Nato. 

“The US has only just ended one disastrous war prolonged in Afghanistan and many seem to be gung-ho about starting another one. 

“The public is opposed to war with Russia. We need de-escalation and dialogue not militarisation and threats of war.”

The anti-war campaign group condemned comments by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer on Thursday, in which he accused Stop the War of “showing solidarity with the aggressor.” 

Writing in the Guardian, Sir Keir claimed the group’s condemnation of Nato was akin to “condemning the guarantee of security and democracy it brings.” 

Rejecting the comments, Stop the War officer Andrew Murray said: “Keir Starmer ignores Nato’s aggressive role over the last 25 years.  

“It is those who supported intervention in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya who have shown solidarity with aggressors.  

“Stop the War called those conflicts right when many Labour MPs did not.”

Peace campaign group the Peace Pledge Union (PPU) branded Sir Keir’s attack on Britain’s peace movement “bizarre” and “ill-informed.” 

PPU campaigns manager Symon Hill said: “We have no sympathy whatsoever with Putin and his military aggression. 

“Russian militarism and Nato militarism are two sides of the same coin. Our allies in Russia are not Putin and his cronies but the peace activists who resist him.”

Former Labour leader and Stop the War co-chair Jeremy Corbyn said Sir Keir’s criticism was unfair. 

Also speaking at Thursday’s rally, Mr Corbyn stressed: “By not supporting a regime it doesn’t mean you want to go to war with them, it means you want to bring about peace for the people of that area.” 

The Independent MP said there has been a distinct lack of balance in the discussion on Ukraine in the press.

He added: “There’s an assumption that the solution to all problems is to go to war. Well it isn’t.

“I think it is the job of all of us to speak out for peace, to speak out for dialogue, to speak out for a diplomatic solution to this conflict.”