Sir Keir Starmer has arrived in Kiev to signal what Downing Street calls a “100-year historic partnership” with Ukraine.
The pact would formalize the financial and navy assist already promised to the nation, and provide extra.
It is the prime minister’s first go to to the nation since taking workplace final summer time, in a present of assist for Ukraine, simply days earlier than Donald Trump returned to the White House.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is eager to debate robust safety ensures from key allies such because the United Kingdom, cautious {that a} new US administration may begin pushing Ukraine to make peace with Russia.
Unlike different prime ministers who’ve flocked to Kiev, Sir Keir took his time to go to, however after six months in workplace he got here to Ukraine pledging long-term assist in opposition to what he calls Russia’s “unlawful and barbaric invasion” .
He was met at Kiev railway station by the UK ambassador to Ukraine, Martin Harris, and the Ukrainian envoy to London, Valerii Zaluzhnyi.
During his journey to the nation, Sir Keir stated: “It’s not simply in regards to the right here and now, it is also about investing in our two nations for the following century.”
“(Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s ambition to tear Ukraine away from its closest companions was an enormous strategic failure. Instead, we’re nearer than ever, and this partnership will take this friendship to the following degree,” he added .
Trump’s decide to turn out to be secretary of state, Marco Rubio, stated earlier this week that each nations must make concessions to see an finish to the battle.
Thursday’s announcement contains extra navy and financial help to show it, in addition to elevated navy collaboration on maritime safety, drone know-how and well being care.
Zelensky has beforehand stated he’s searching for assist from the UK in acquiring safety ensures to discourage future assaults.
NATO membership is on the prime of its want listing, however Ukraine additionally needs its allies to ship peacekeepers to the nation if the preventing stops, to patrol the present entrance line which might turn out to be a buffer zone in any peace settlement.
Before the go to, Zelensky stated this was one thing he would talk about with the prime minister.
It builds on the £12.8 billion of assist the UK has already supplied to Ukraine. The nation has additionally already dedicated to offering £3 billion in navy help yearly “for so long as wanted”.
Ukraine has already used British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles to assault Russian navy services removed from the border.
Their arrival late final 12 months was welcomed by Kiev and criticized by Moscow.
The partnership, consisting of a treaty and a political declaration, will likely be introduced to Parliament within the coming weeks.
The plans had begun underneath the earlier Conservative authorities.
Starmer beforehand visited Ukraine when he was opposition chief in 2023, and has twice hosted President Zelensky in Downing Street since taking workplace.
Additional reporting by Alex Smith.
