Sir Keir Starmer is making his final trip to Ukraine as prime minister, reaffirming the United Kingdom's "cast-iron" support for the country.
Starmer is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the capital, Kyiv, on Thursday. The visit occurs as Starmer prepares to hand over leadership of the Labour Party and the role of prime minister.
During his tenure, Starmer highlighted the resilience of the Ukrainian people since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, stating their fortitude has "preserved the security of Europe."
He emphasized the UK's contributions to Ukraine's war effort over the past two years, including the signing of a 100-year partnership agreement aimed at strengthening defense and trade ties. The UK has also led efforts to establish a future peacekeeping force.
"When I became prime minister, I knew the UK must not simply stand with Ukraine in the moment, but help build the foundations of its long-term security and success," Starmer said in a statement. He noted that the UK has increased its defense investments and is pioneering future war-fighting technologies.
Starmer also pointed to the united front presented by the UK and its allies against Russian aggression, as demonstrated in recent G7 and NATO summits. "As we showed at the G7 and Nato summits, in recent weeks, the UK and its allies are absolutely united against Russian aggression," he stated.