Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK military is moving to "war-fighting readiness" as he unveils the government's defence spending plans.

Axar.az reports, citing BBC, the prime minister now set out three fundamental goals he wants the defence spending review to achieve:

- Moving the UK to "war-fighting readiness". This is the "most effective way" to deter aggressors, Starmer says, explaining that they will do this through pay rises and creating a stronger, fully trained reserve.

- "Adding to the strength of Nato". The defence policy will "always be Nato first", Starmer says, adding that the UK hopes to deliver the "biggest contribution to Nato since it was created"

- His government will "innovate and accelerate innovation at a war-time pace" to meet threats. Starmer says he wants the UK to be the fastest innovator in the alliance.

The prime minister noted that the world is facing the greatest instability it has for years.

When asked if Britain would go to war with Russia if it invaded a Nato member such as Lithuania, he told BBC Radio 4: “I very much hope not, and in order to make sure that that isn’t the case, we need to prepare. But we cannot ignore the threat that Russia poses.”