Britain is to develop a new generation of 'deep strike' missiles capable of hitting Moscow.

Sir Keir Starmer will unveil plans on Wednesday to work with a dozen Nato allies on a £40billion missile project designed to deter Russian aggression.

The 'Deep Precision Strike' missiles could eventually hit targets up to 1,500 miles away with 'pinpoint accuracy'.

The missiles are designed to launch pre-emptive strikes against military targets, such as air bases and missile silos deep in enemy territory.

But, for the first time, they would bring the Kremlin within range of conventional missiles fired from the UK. 

The potential range is four times that of the UK's Storm Shadow deep-strike missiles, which are being used by Ukraine against Russia.

The Prime Minister arrived at a Nato summit in Ankara where he took time out to discuss England's World Cup quarter-final with his Norwegian counterpart Jonas Gahr Store.

The two leaders donned football shirts and bantered about the crunch match. 

Mr Store reminded Sir Keir that Norway beat England in a famous qualifier 45 years ago, adding: 'And the radio commentators said, "Maggie Thatcher, can you hear me? Your boys took one hell of a beating".'

Sir Keir replied: 'What you're leaving out is that England only win the World Cup under Labour governments, 1966, so the time is ours.' 

The PM will launch the missile project in Ankara, where European countries are scrambling to show Donald Trump they are gearing up to defend the continent from Vladimir Putin.

European leaders fear President Trump is gradually withdrawing US support for Nato. Sir Keir said the UK had to work with European allies to 'step up to deliver a stronger, more European Nato'.

However, Sir Richard Barrons and Lord Robertson, the authors of a defence plan rejected by Downing Street as unaffordable, told MPs on Tuesday 'the world is on fire now' and time is running out to prepare Britain's military.

The pair said that Britain's allies are 'dismayed' by Labour delays on defence spending which leave the country vulnerable to a Russian attack, Sir Richard told the Defence Committee: 'The UK does not own the clock on when we need to be ready by. It is set by Russia and likely on the back of an outcome in Ukraine. Which is why people talk credibly about 2030 or sooner.'