Starmer visits Ukraine to sign partnership deal

Sir Keir Starmer is travelling to Kyiv to signal what Downing Avenue is asking a “landmark 100-year partnership” with Ukraine.

The pact would formalise financial and navy help already pledged to the nation, and provides extra.

It’s the prime minister’s first go to to the nation since taking workplace final summer season, in a present of help for Ukraine days earlier than Donald Trump re-enters the White Home.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is eager to debate agency safety ensures from key allies such because the UK, cautious {that a} new US administration may begin pushing Ukraine to make peace with Russia.

Not like different prime ministers who’ve rushed to Kyiv, Sir Keir has taken his time to go to, however after six months in workplace he’s now coming to Ukraine pledging long-term help towards what he calls Russia’s “unlawful and barbaric invasion”.

Talking as he travelled to the nation, he mentioned: “This isn’t simply concerning the right here and now, it’s also about an funding in our two international locations for the following century.”

“[Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s ambition to wrench Ukraine away from its closest companions has been a monumental strategic failure. As an alternative, we’re nearer than ever, and this partnership will take that friendship to the following degree,” he added.

Thursday’s announcement contains extra navy and financial assist to show that, in addition to elevated navy collaboration on maritime safety and drone know-how, and healthcare.

Zelensky has beforehand mentioned he’s trying in direction of the UK for assist getting safety ensures to discourage future assaults.

Becoming a member of Nato is in direction of the highest of Zelensky’s want listing, however Ukraine additionally desires its allies to ship peacekeepers to the nation if preventing does cease, to patrol the present frontline which may grow to be a buffer zone in any peace settlement.

Forward of the go to, Zelensky mentioned this was one thing he would talk about with the prime minister.

It builds on £12.8bn of help the UK has already given to Ukraine. The nation has additionally already dedicated to giving the nation £3bn in navy assist yearly for “so long as it takes”.

Ukraine has already been utilizing British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles to assault Russian navy amenities removed from the border.

Their arrival late final yr was welcomed by Kyiv, and slammed by Moscow.

Starmer beforehand visited Ukraine when he was chief of the opposition in 2023, and has hosted President Zelensky twice at Downing Avenue since coming into workplace.