As Keir Starmer prepares to step down as United Kingdom Prime Minister, he is making one last high-stakes trip to Ukraine to cement the long-standing bilateral commitment to the war-torn nation, pledging that Britain’s “cast-iron” backing for Kyiv will not waver under his successor. Starmer is scheduled to hold formal talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Thursday, just one day before Andy Burnham, Starmer’s incoming successor as leader of the Labour Party, is officially installed and set to take over the office of prime minister on Monday.
In pre-departure remarks, Starmer paid tribute to the extraordinary resilience of the Ukrainian people, arguing that their unbroken fortitude in the face of Russia’s full-scale invasion launched in February 2022 has done more than defend their own borders — it has preserved the collective security of the entire European continent. The outgoing prime minister also highlighted the major milestones of British support for Ukraine during his two-year tenure in Downing Street, most notably the historic 100-year bilateral partnership signed by the two nations, designed to deepen integrated defence cooperation and expand bilateral trade ties. He also noted his leadership in building global consensus around the creation of a dedicated multinational peacekeeping force to secure long-term stability once a formal peace agreement is reached.
“When I entered Downing Street as prime minister, I made a commitment that the UK would not just offer temporary solidarity with Ukraine during the immediate heat of conflict — we would help lay the solid foundations for its long-term security and lasting success,” Starmer said in his official statement. He added that under his government, the UK has expanded its own defence investment and positioned itself as a global leader in developing next-generation combat technologies needed for modern battlefields. “We have also rallied partners across the globe to join us in this commitment. As the recent G7 and NATO summits made clear, the United Kingdom and our allied nations remain completely united in opposing Russian aggression,” he added.
Zelensky’s recent push for increased military support comes amid an intensification of Russian air strikes across Ukrainian territory. Speaking at last week’s NATO summit hosted in Turkey, the Ukrainian president called on allied nations to prioritize expanding supplies of advanced air defence systems to counter the ongoing bombardment. Shortly after that appeal, U.S. President Donald Trump granted Ukraine approval to domestically produce Patriot air defence missiles, a capability that will significantly boost Kyiv’s ability to intercept Russian ballistic missile attacks targeting population centers and critical infrastructure.
In the latest British military contribution to Ukraine, a £61 million contract with defence giant BAE Systems will deliver 150 British-manufactured artillery barrels to help strengthen Ukrainian frontline defences, adding much-needed firepower to Kyiv’s counter-offensive operations. “I am incredibly proud of everything Britain has contributed to Ukraine’s fight. This work will continue, and our unwavering, cast-iron support for Ukraine will always endure,” Starmer said.
Starmer’s visit coincides with renewed Russian offensive operations targeting the strategic southern Ukrainian port of Odesa. The Kremlin has confirmed that its forces struck port infrastructure it claims is used for unloading petroleum, oil and lubricant supplies for the Ukrainian military. Recent Russian attacks on Black Sea oil tankers have killed eight people, adding to the rising civilian and military toll along the critical Black Sea trade corridor.
On Wednesday, during Starmer’s final appearance at the weekly Prime Minister’s Questions session in the House of Commons, Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch publicly praised Starmer’s diplomatic and policy work on Ukraine and his close personal friendship with President Zelensky. As he bid farewell to fellow members of parliament, Starmer recalled a defining emotional moment from his tenure: welcoming Zelensky to Downing Street just days after the Ukrainian leader’s high-profile public disagreement with U.S. President Donald Trump during a 2025 visit to the White House. “I sat down with him then to make clear: in the United Kingdom, we will always stand with him and the people of Ukraine,” Starmer said.