Dame Priti added: "We should now look to show some leadership when it comes to defence spending, corralling our European allies, NATO, leading NATO to basically say to our NATO allies as well in Europe, this is our moment again, yes, to continue the support towards the people of Ukraine, President Zelenskyy, in this conflict, but also step up on that entire agenda of military security and defence.
"We can't do this without any of those partners and that's why the prime minister has spent quite considerable amount of time in the last few days having those private conversations with our allies to make sure that alliance doesn't fracture, that we stand as one and we find the right solution for Ukraine, which in the end will be in the interests of the British people.".
In an X post about Sir Keir's call to Mr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian leader said: "The United Kingdom's role in fortifying Europe's defence and security is important for us.".
Sir Keir Starmer has held private calls with European leaders to ensure the Western alliance does not fracture, a minister has said, after Donald Trump claimed Volodymyr Zelenskyy was a "dictator".
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy told Wilfred Frost on Sky News Breakfast the prime minister has spent a "quite considerable amount of time" over the past few days talking privately to European leaders "to make sure that the alliance doesn't fracture".
