Keir Starmer says the UK will ‘never give up’ on supporting Ukraine

Sir Keir Starmer made his first trip to Kiev as Prime Minister, pledging to put Ukraine in the “strongest possible position” in 2025.

He arrived on Thursday morning, accompanying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to lay flowers at the Wall of Remembrance of those killed in the war with Russia – and told reporters that the UK would “never stop” providing needed support to Ukraine.

The visit comes on the occasion of what Downing Street described as a “historic 100-year partnership” agreement with Ukraine. The agreement would formalize economic and military support already pledged to the country.

His visit comes just days before Donald Trump is scheduled to return to the White House.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is keen on strong security guarantees from key allies, and is concerned that the new US administration could begin to push Ukraine to make peace with Russia.

Unlike other prime ministers who rushed to visit Kiev, Sir Keir took his time to visit, but after six months in office, he came to Ukraine pledging long-term support against what he called Russia’s “illegal and barbaric invasion”.

Several explosions and air raid sirens were heard in Kiev shortly after the prime minister laid a wreath in the city’s central square.

Speaking as he traveled to the country, Sir Keir said: “This is not just about the present, it is also about investing in our two countries for the next century.”

He added, “(Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s ambition to wrest Ukraine from its closest partner was a massive strategic failure. Instead, we are closer than ever, and this partnership will take that friendship to the next level.”

Shortly after his arrival, the Prime Minister visited a hospital in Kiev that specializes in treating burns.

He had a private tour of the intensive care unit where he met wounded Ukrainians in a rehabilitation ward supported by the British Red Cross.

Sir Keir said the casualties he saw were a “grim reminder of the high price Ukraine is paying”.

“One of the consequences of this conflict is a stronger NATO unification,” the Prime Minister said.

He added that support for Ukraine has become “larger and stronger than it was, and we must stand behind Ukraine as long as it takes.”

“We must never give up on that, and we are leading the way,” he said.

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

Thursday’s announcement includes economic aid, health care support, and increased military cooperation in maritime security and drone technology.

Zelensky previously said he looked forward to help from the UK for security guarantees to deter future attacks.

Joining NATO tops his wish list, but Ukraine also wants its allies to send peacekeepers into the country if the fighting stops, to patrol the current frontline that could become a buffer zone in any peace deal.

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

This builds on the £12.8bn of support the UK has already provided to Ukraine. The country has already committed to giving the country £3bn worth of military aid every year “for as long as it takes”.

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

Their arrival was welcomed by Kyiv late last year, and Moscow criticized it.

The partnership, which consists of a treaty and a political declaration, is due to be presented to Parliament in the coming weeks.

Plans for this began under the previous Conservative government.

Sir Keir 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.