Kremlin vents fury at Sir Keir Starmer as global tensions skyrocket to alarming levels

13:46, Wed, Feb 18, 2026 Updated: 14:16, Wed, Feb 18, 2026

Russian President Putin Delivers A Speech At The Celebration Of The City Day In Moscow

Russia has sent a chilling WW3 warning to the UK as tensions threaten to boil over (Image: Getty)

Russia has issued a chilling World War Three warning to the UK and to Sir Keir Starmer over his move to boost defence spending.

There is a reported £28 billion black hole in the British defence budget and the premier told NATO allies there was a need to "spend more, faster". But the Kremlin today accused Sir Keir of playing politics with military spending, portraying his move as to counter his chronic political problems at home. Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Vladimir Putin was ready for war.

“We view the British Prime Minister’s announcement of increased defence spending primarily as a response to the difficult domestic political situation in his country,” she said.

“This is against the backdrop of negative socioeconomic developments, including an influx of illegal migrants, dilapidated infrastructure, increased tax burdens on the population and businesses, and scandals affecting Starmer's inner circle.”

Starmer was “frantically seeking any opportunity to boost his appeal to voters”. But “the risk of this move for the international situation is quite obvious”. Moscow believes Western warmongers are seeking to boost military production which is “escalating tension”, she said.

Zakharova warned: “This destructive activity by the British authorities is being fully taken into account by both the Russian Foreign Ministry and the [secret services] in our country…. “No one ever publicises these details."

Putin had made clear that “if Europe suddenly wants to fight us and starts, we are ready right now….if their aggressive itch doesn't go away, we proceed," she said. “We would also recommend that the British government prioritise, first and foremost, the genuine interests of its own population, not the lobbyists of the military-industrial complex, which advocates for an unrestrained increase in defence spending”.

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Government Ministers Attend Weekly Cabinet Meeting

PM Keir Starmer has set a target of spending 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence by April 2027. (Image: Getty)

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Reports say that despite Sir Keir's defence boost words in Munich, the Chancellor Rachel Reeves has ruled out increased MoD spending this year despite pressure from military chiefs.

Starmer has set a target of spending 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence by April 2027, with an “ambition” to increase this again to 3 per cent after the next election. Donald Trump has demanded 5 per cent of GDP from NATO allies, including Britain.