Keir Starmer makes promise to Volodymyr Zelenskyy during visit to Ukraine | Politics | News

Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to put Ukraine in the “strongest possible position” this year during his first trip to Kyiv as Prime Minister.

The Labour leader’s visit to the presidential palace in the capital coincided with a drone attack by Vladimir Putin’s forces on the city.

Sir Keir said: “We will work with you and all our allies for steps that would be robust enough to guarantee Ukraine’s security, to guarantee any possible peace and deter any future aggression.”

He said “those conversations will continue for many months ahead”, adding: “We will play our part when it comes to guaranteeing Ukraine’s security but we must never lose sight of the absolute need for Ukraine to be in the strongest possible position as we go into 2025.”

The visit came days before Donald Trump enters the White House for his second term as president, potentially signalling a shift in US support for Ukraine’s war effort in favour of a push for a peace deal.

Mr Trump’s pick for secretary of state Marco Rubio suggested on Wednesday that both Ukraine and Russia would have to make concessions to end the war.

Sir Keir said: “Let’s be clear, we all want this war to end, no-one wants that more than Ukrainians, but right now Putin shows no sign of wanting peace.”

Sir Keir signed what Downing Street has called a “landmark 100-year partnership” pact with Ukraine.

The agreement, which will stretch into the next century, will bolster military collaboration on maritime security through a new framework covering the Baltic Sea, Black Sea and Azov Sea to deter Russian aggression.

The partnership will be laid in Parliament in the coming weeks, and will involve co-operation in areas such as healthcare, agricultural technology and the space industry.

Sir Keir also paid tribute to the support that the US has given to Ukraine.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Sir Keir said: “The US role here is vital and we work together every day.

“I’d actually like to pay tribute to the work that the US done here, the support that they have put in because it’s been a vital component of what has been quite an incredible achievement by Ukraine.

“If I think about how long this conflict has gone on and the incredible success that Ukraine has had in the face of this aggression from Russia, that is a tribute to Ukraine, Ukrainians and their resolve, but also to all allies who’ve supported Ukraine, including the US.”

The Prime Minister pledged to send 1,540 artillery barrels to Ukraine as President Zelenskyy called for more weapons, blaming Russia‘s advance in the eastern part of Ukraine on the slow supply of weapons.

A new mobile defence system and a ramping up in the training of troops were also promised by Sir Keir.

During his visit, he visited wounded Ukrainians at a Kyiv hospital specialising in treating burns.

After a private tour of the intensive care unit, he met two patients on a rehabilitation ward that receives support from the British Red Cross.