UK PM accuses Russia of throwing citizens into Ukraine 'meat grinder'

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer accused Russia of throwing its people into a meat grinder in Ukraine as he made his first speech to the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday.

Starmer said "600,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded" in its war in Ukraine, questioning how Moscow "can show its face" at the UN headquarters.

"The UN Charter, which they sit here to uphold, speaks of human dignity -- not treating your own citizens as bits of meat to fling into the grinder."

Russia's deputy UN ambassador, Dmitry Polyanskiy, held his head in his hand and looked down at his papers as Starmer spoke.

Starmer also called for immediate ceasefires in Lebanon and Gaza where Israel is pressing an escalating two-front offensive against Iran-backed militant groups.

"We need an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah and the implementation of a political plan," he said.

"Security will come through diplomacy, not escalation. There is no military solution here, nor is there a military-only solution to the conflict in Gaza. This Council must demand again an immediate, full and complete ceasefire in Gaza, with the release of all the hostages."

Starmer's outing on the world stage comes as he faces pressure at home over a gift-taking scandal that has touched him and his deputy, as well as a gaffe that threatened to overshadow a keynote speech to party faithful.

Starmer called on Hamas to return "the sausages," before quickly correcting himself and saying "hostages," as he urged a peaceful solution in Gaza, in remarks that went viral on Tuesday.