UK will ‘never let up’ on Ukraine support, says Keir Starmer

Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to place Ukraine within the “strongest attainable place” in 2025 as he made his first journey to Kyiv as prime minister.

The prime minister stated the UK would “by no means let up” on giving the mandatory assist to Ukraine as he signed what Downing Road has referred to as a “landmark 100-year partnership” pact with Ukraine.

“As we speak is a very historic day, our relationship is nearer than ever,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky informed reporters after the signing. The settlement formalises financial and navy assist already pledged to the nation.

Zelensky is eager to agency safety ensures from key allies, cautious that Donald Trump’s 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 has come to Ukraine pledging long-term assist in opposition to what he calls Russia’s “unlawful and barbaric invasion”.

In Kyiv, the 2 leaders walked behind an honour guard which carried wreaths within the nationwide colors of the UK and Ukraine.

After troopers set down the wreaths, Sir Keir and President Zelensky positioned their bouquets on the foot of the wall outdoors St Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery.

The Kyiv landmark is roofed in pictures of the lifeless and has turn out to be a spot of pilgrimage for grieving households to pay tribute.

Because the leaders met for talks inside Kyiv’s Mariinsky palace, a number of explosions and air raid sirens could possibly be heard.

“We’re with you not simply at the moment, for this yr or the following – however for 100 years – lengthy after this horrible battle is over and Ukraine is free and thriving as soon as once more,” Sir Keir informed the Ukrainian president.

Shortly after, requested by reporters at a press convention what he thought concerning the ‘hiya’ from Russia, Zelensky replied that Ukraine would ship its personal ‘hiya again’.

The prime minister additionally visited an condo constructing that was blasted aside in a New 12 months’s Day drone assault, killing a pair who have been each distinguished scientists.

The condo is simply down the road from the president’s workplace.

“They have been sending us a message,” the top of Kyiv’s navy administration informed Sir Keir, “Nobody is protected”.

Shortly after arriving, the prime minister visited a hospital in Kyiv specialising in treating burns.

He was given a tour of the intensive care unit the place he met wounded Ukrainians on a rehabilitation ward that’s supported by the British Purple Cross.

“If Ukraine falls, so does Europe” an injured civilian who had burns throughout each arms and arms, warned the prime minister.

Sir Keir stated the accidents he noticed have been “a grim reminder of the heavy value that Ukraine is paying”.

“One of many penalties of this battle has been to attract Nato extra strongly collectively,” stated the prime minister.

He added assist for Ukraine was “larger and stronger than it has been, and we should stand behind Ukraine for so long as it takes”.

“We must not ever let up on that and we have been main the way in which,” he stated.

Trump’s option to turn out to be secretary of state, Marco Rubio, stated earlier this week that each international locations must make concessions to see an finish to the battle.

Thursday’s announcement consists of financial assist, assist for healthcare, and elevated navy collaboration on maritime safety and drone expertise.

Zelensky has beforehand stated he’s wanting 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 his want checklist, however Ukraine additionally needs its allies to ship peacekeepers to the nation if preventing does cease, to patrol the present frontline which may turn out to be a buffer zone in any peace settlement.

Forward of the go to, Zelensky stated this was one thing he would focus on with the prime minister.

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

Russian forces are gaining floor extra rapidly than at any time because it launched its full scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, regardless of Ukrainian strikes on Russia.

In line with newest reviews from respected Ukrainian open supply materials, Russia has minimize off a key freeway and railway to the south-west of Pokrovsk, a strategically essential hub in japanese Ukraine. Ukraine says most of Russia’s assaults prior to now 24 hours targeted in town.

They’ve additionally made large advances in different large inhabitants centres within the east – in Toretsk and Chasiv Yar.

Because the invasion reaches the top of its third yr, with an estimated million individuals both killed or wounded, Ukraine is shedding territory within the east.

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

The change to permit their use in Russian territory late final yr was welcomed by Kyiv, and slammed by Moscow.

The partnership, fashioned of a treaty and a political declaration, is because of be offered to Parliament within the coming weeks.

Plans for it started below the earlier Conservative authorities.

Whereas that is his first go to as prime minister, Sir Keir visited Ukraine when he was chief of the opposition in 2023, and has hosted President Zelensky twice at Downing Road since getting into workplace.

Extra reporting by Alex Smith and Zahra Fatima.