British PM Starmer arrives in Kyiv to talk about security partnership before Trump's inauguration
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has arrived in Kyiv on an unannounced visit to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The leaders are set to sign a partnership agreement that will cover defense in particular, The Guardian and Associated Press report.
According to media reports, the two countries will sign a "100-year partnership" treaty that will cover areas such as defense, science, energy, and trade.
The document envisages deepening defense relations with an offer of further military assistance to Kyiv amid fears that with the arrival of Donald Trump in the White House, the US may begin to curtail its support.
Starmer is expected to discuss what security guarantees the UK can offer Kyiv, including the possibility of British troops joining a post-war peacekeeping force.
"Putin’s ambition to wrench Ukraine away from its closest partners has been a monumental strategic failure. Instead, we are closer than ever, and this partnership will take that friendship to the next level," Starmer said before the visit.
In addition, the new agreement aims to strengthen economic ties between Ukraine and the UK in non-military areas. In particular, Starmer will announce the allocation of 40 million pounds sterling (about $48 million) for post-war economic recovery.
The British premier's unannounced visit is his first trip to Ukraine since taking office in July 2024. However, during this time he has already held talks with Zelenskyy twice.
Before that, Starmer visited Ukraine in 2023, when he was the leader of the opposition.
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