PM Sir Keir Starmer was accused today of being “hell-bent on arming” a “brutal continuation” of the war in Ukraine after he called on allies to increase supplies of long-range weapons for striking at Russia.

Sir Keir said that there’s “further we can do on capability, particularly … long-range capability” ahead of welcoming Ukrainian premier Volodymyr Zelenskky for bilateral talks in Downing Street.

He then held talks with allies on how to increase pressure on Moscow and boost Ukraine’s military.

Stop the War convener Lindsey German said: “Volodymyr Zelensky has refused to be moved towards a peace plan and continues to bank on a long war against Russia in which he relies on increasing support from European hawks, led by Keir Starmer and his so-called coalition of the willing. 

“If Starmer really wanted the war over, he wouldn’t be holding talks in London aimed at restoring momentum for it through further arming it, but demanding negotiations to end it. 

“The public in Ukraine and across Europe are increasingly war weary, but not it seems the prime minister, who appears hell-bent on arming its brutal continuation, while proposed talks to end the conflict appear to have receded into an indeterminate future.”

Mr Zelensky, DanishPrime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Dutch premier Dick Schoof and Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte were in London, while about 20 other leaders dialled in to the “coalition of the willing” meeting — an initiative led by Sir Keir and France’s Emmanuel Macron.

Measures under consideration include further efforts to damage the economy supporting Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war effort by taking Russian oil and gas off the global market, as well as seeking ways to use frozen assets to fund Ukraine’s defences.

The PM accused Russian premier Vladimir Putin of “an absolute unwillingness to engage… [and] continued attacks increasingly on civilians and on children.

“I do think that this week we can really bear down on Russian oil and gas. Huge steps forward this week already.

“I think there’s further we can do on capability, particularly… long-range capability — and of course, the vital work for the coalition of the willing when it comes to the security guarantees that are necessary.”