UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer traveled to Ukraine to pledge more weapons and promise British support for the next 100 years as the war enters a critical phase.
Starmer, who met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, will sign a ‘100-year partnership’ agreement with Ukraine aimed at strengthening security in the Black Sea and the Baltic regions, as well as building economic and cultural ties between the two countries.
In a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office, Starmer said, “Putin’s ambition to distance Ukraine from its closest partners has been a colossal strategic failure. Instead, we are closer than ever, and this partnership will take that friendship to the next level.”
Ukraine has expressed its willingness to participate in possible talks with Russia on conditional terms, while other Western leaders, such as French President Emmanuel Macron, have floated the idea of sending European troops to ‘keep the peace.’
Starmer is also expected to announce a new package of support for Ukraine’s immediate needs, including ‘lethal aid,’ though details remain unclear.
Downing Street officials highlighted that Ukraine has become a highly developed military power, with well-trained armed forces and a technology sector that has rapidly innovated and tested new equipment on the battlefield over the past three years. This real-war experience will help Britain strengthen its defenses, officials noted.
The ‘100-year partnership’ includes cooperation in science, technology, healthcare, agriculture, and education. It also introduces a new plan to enhance security in the Baltic Sea, the Black Sea, and the Sea of Azov.
Additionally, the United Kingdom is developing a system to trace Ukrainian grain extracted from Russian-controlled territories and sold illegally. The British-made database will be ready in the coming weeks and shared with the Kyiv government. Cooperation on energy and critical minerals was also promised as part of the agreement.
