Watch: Starmer visits UK nuclear-armed submarine-OxBig News Network

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has visited the crew of HMS Vanguard after the submarine returned to UK waters after months of undersea service.

The nuclear-armed submarine had been patrolling for more than 200 days, marking one of the longest deployments in British Royal Navy history.

Sir Keir, who was accompanied by Defence Secretary John Healey, was the first prime minister to visit the boat’s “Day Zero” at Barrow-in-Furness in more than a decade.

The prime minister told reporters the Kremlin respected the UK’s nuclear arsenal because “we’ve got our own independent deterrent and we’re committed to Nato”.

“What is obviously important is they appreciate that it is what it is which is a credible capability,” he said. “And that it most certainly is.”

Britain is hosting a closed meeting on Thursday of senior military officers from the “Coalition of the Willing” as they draw up plans for a proposed peacekeeping force for Ukraine.