After Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed progress in developing a plan for postwar security guarantees, Russia’s foreign ministry on Thursday again rejected a core pillar of the emerging peace initiative: the deployment of British and European soldiers as part of a peacekeeping force.

On troop numbers, Starmer does not give an exact figure, but says this would be determined in accordance with military plans, and then put before the House for a debate and vote. Badenoch says it is "essential" for Nato leaders to meet, including the US, and asks if Starmer will be calling an urgent summit.

Russia reportedly struck a critical infrastructure site in Ukraine’s Lviv region in the early hours of January 9, possibly using an Oreshnik ballistic missile, triggering nationwide air raid alerts and warnings from the US Embassy in Kyiv.