Starmer in Ukraine to sign partnership agreement

Sir Keir Starmer arrived in kyiv to sign what Downing Street calls a “historic 100-year partnership” with Ukraine.

The pact would formalize the economic and military support already promised to the country, and offers more.

It is the prime minister’s first visit to the country since taking office last summer, in a show of support for Ukraine days before Donald Trump re-enters the White House.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is keen to discuss firm security guarantees from key allies such as the United Kingdom, fearful that a new US administration could begin to pressure Ukraine to make peace with Russia.

Unlike other prime ministers who rushed to kyiv, Sir Keir took his time visiting, but after six months in office he is now coming to Ukraine pledging long-term support against what he calls the “illegal invasion and barbarian” of Russia.

He was received at kyiv train station by the UK ambassador to Ukraine, Martin Harris, and Ukraine’s envoy in London, Valerii Zaluzhnyi.

While traveling to the country, he said: “This is not just about the here and now, but also about an investment in our two countries for the next century.”

“(Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s ambition to distance Ukraine from its closest partners has been a monumental strategic failure. Instead, we are closer than ever and this partnership will take that friendship to the next level,” he added.

Trump’s nominee to become secretary of state, Marco Rubio, said earlier this week that both countries would have to make concessions to see an end to the war.

Thursday’s announcement includes more military and economic aid to prove it, as well as greater military collaboration on maritime security, drone technology and health care.

Zelensky has previously said he is looking to the UK for help in obtaining security guarantees to deter future attacks.

Joining NATO is at the top of its wish list, but Ukraine also wants its allies to send peacekeepers to the country if the fighting stops, to patrol the current front line, which could become a buffer zone in any peace agreement.

Before the visit, Zelensky said this was something he would discuss with the prime minister.

It comes on top of the £12.8bn of support the UK has already given to Ukraine. The country has also pledged to give him £3bn in military aid each year for “as long as it takes”.

Ukraine has already been using British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles to attack Russian military installations far from the border.

His arrival at the end of last year was welcomed by kyiv and criticized by Moscow.

The partnership, made up of a treaty and a political declaration, will be presented to Parliament in the coming weeks.

Plans for this had begun under the previous Conservative government.

Starmer previously visited Ukraine when he was opposition leader in 2023, and has hosted President Zelensky twice in Downing Street since taking office.

Additional reporting by Alex Smith.