British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy signed a landmark 100-year partnership agreement on Thursday to deepen security ties and strengthen their countries’ relationship.
“Today is a truly historic day, our relationship is closer than ever,” Zelenskiy told media after the signing.
Keir Starmer has made his first trip to Kyiv as prime minister, vowing to put Ukraine in the “strongest possible position” in 2025.
Arriving on Thursday morning, he accompanied Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to lay flowers at a wall of remembrance for those killed in the war with Russia – telling reporters the UK will “never let up” on giving the necessary support to Ukraine.
The trip is taking place to mark what Downing Street has called a “landmark 100-year partnership” pact with Ukraine. The agreement would formalise economic and military support already pledged to the country.
His visit comes just days before Donald Trump is set to re-enter the White House.
Zelensky is keen to firm security guarantees from key allies, wary that a new US administration could start pushing Ukraine to make peace with Russia.
Unlike other prime ministers who have rushed to Kyiv, Sir Keir has taken his time to visit, but after six months in office he has come to Ukraine pledging long-term support against what he calls Russia’s “illegal and barbaric invasion”.
In Kyiv, the two leaders walked behind an honour guard which carried wreaths in the national colours of the UK and Ukraine.
After soldiers set down the wreaths, Sir Keir and President Zelensky placed their bouquets at the foot of the wall outside St Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery.
The Kyiv landmark is covered in photos of the dead and has become a place of pilgrimage for grieving families to pay tribute.
Multiple explosions and air raid sirens could be heard in Kyiv about an hour after the prime minister laid the wreath.
The prime minister also visited an apartment building that was blasted apart in a New Year’s Day drone attack, killing a couple who were both prominent scientists.
The apartment is just down the street from the president’s office.
“They were sending us a message,” the head of Kyiv’s military administration told Sir Keir, “No one is safe”.
Shortly after arriving, the prime minister visited a hospital in Kyiv specialising in treating burns.
He was given a tour of the intensive care unit where he met wounded Ukrainians on a rehabilitation ward that is supported by the British Red Cross.
“If Ukraine falls, so does Europe” an injured civilian who had burns across both hands and arms, warned the prime minister.
Sir Keir said the injuries he saw were “a grim reminder of the heavy price that Ukraine is paying”.
