War with Russia would see British graves cover eastern Europe, ex

A former Nato commander has warned that without effective military deterrence, Europe faces a war with Russia that Britain’s children and grandchildren would have to fight and die in.

In a stark message, General Sir Richard Shirreff, the ex-Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe of Nato, urged Sir Keir Starmer to issue a “call of realism” after the alliance’s secretary general Mark Rutte warned Russia could attack a member state within five years.

“The only way war with Russia is to be averted between Europe and Russia is if Europe steps up and properly deters Russia,” Shirreff told The i Paper.

“We need a similar clarion call of realism from Keir Starmer that says we’ve got to tell it to the British people as it is – which is that unless there is effective deterrence your sons and