KYIV, Ukraine — On Thursday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in the nation’s capital, pledging a commitment to bolster Ukraine’s security for the next century. This visit coincides with the nearing inauguration of Donald Trump as the new U.S. president.
The British government announced that Starmer and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will formalize a “100-Year Partnership” treaty during this visit. This agreement will address various sectors, including defense, science, energy, and trade. Starmer’s appearance is significant, being his first since becoming Prime Minister in July. Although he visited Ukraine as opposition leader earlier in 2023, he has had multiple discussions with Zelenskyy in London following his assumption of office. The ongoing conflict marks its third anniversary next month.
Additionally, Italy’s defense chief was in Kyiv on the same day, following recent visits from Germany’s defense minister and a phone discussion between Zelenskyy and French President Emmanuel Macron a few days prior. This surge in diplomatic engagements is notable as the timeline approaches Trump’s inauguration on Monday, which is likely to alter the outgoing U.S. administration’s commitment to support Ukraine against Russian aggression. Trump has indicated he expects European nations to take on a larger responsibility in supporting Ukraine.
Starmer arrived at the Kyiv railway station on a cold and overcast morning, emphasizing the severity of the conflict when he stated, “We’re a long way into this conflict. We mustn’t let up.” During his visit, Starmer and Zelenskyy honored victims of the war by laying flowers at a commemorative wall situated at St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery, which has become a significant site for families mourning their loss.
The British Prime Minister subsequently toured a Kyiv hospital dedicated to burn treatment. During his discussions with Zelenskyy at the presidential palace, debris from Russian drones shot down by Ukrainian air defenses caused damage to a vehicle and a building elsewhere in the city, as reported by the city administration’s chief, Tymur Tkachenko.
As one of Ukraine’s principal military supporters, the U.K. has provided a substantial £12.8 billion (approximately $16 billion) in military and civilian assistance since Russia’s full-scale invasion began. Additionally, the U.K. has trained over 50,000 Ukrainian troops on its territory. Starmer is also expected to announce an additional £40 million ($49 million) to aid Ukraine’s post-conflict economic recovery.
However, the United States plays a far larger role in supporting Ukraine, and uncertainty looms over the future of this support under Trump’s administration. The president-elect has shown reservations about the financial implications of U.S. aid to Kyiv, aims for a swift resolution to the conflict, and plans potential discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has long had Trump’s admiration.
Kyiv’s allies are urgently providing support to Ukraine ahead of Trump’s inauguration, hoping to secure a strong position for Ukraine prior to any future peace negotiations. Zelenskyy has insisted that any peace talks must ensure ongoing protection from Russia, which has been a significant aggressor in the region.
The U.K.’s century-long commitment is part of this assurance, with the aim of ensuring Ukraine is “never again vulnerable to the kind of brutality inflicted on it by Russia,” referring to Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the extensive attempts to invade Ukraine since February 2022.
The treaty signifies a collaborative effort in defense, particularly for maritime security concerning Russian activities in the Baltic Sea, Black Sea, and the Sea of Azov. It will also facilitate technology projects, notably involving drones, which have become essential in the conflict, as well as monitoring systems to track Ukrainian grain that has been unlawfully exported by Russia from occupied territories.
Starmer remarked, “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.” He added that this initiative is not solely about immediate needs but represents an investment in the future of both countries, aiming to foster technological advancements, scientific progress, and cultural exchanges, leveraging the remarkable innovation exhibited by Ukraine recently.
Zelenskyy mentioned discussions would also cover a proposal by Macron, which could involve Western troops stationed in Ukraine to supervise a potential ceasefire. He pointed out that any such plan should coincide with a timeline for Ukraine’s NATO membership, which the alliance has stated will happen someday, but not until the conflict concludes. Trump appears to share a viewpoint sympathetic to Putin’s stance on Ukraine’s NATO membership.
As the ongoing conflict approaches its three-year milestone, both nations are intensifying efforts to gain ground ahead of possible peace talks. Ukraine has launched a new offensive in the Kursk region of Russia, trying to maintain territory captured in the previous year while increasing drone and missile strikes against Russian military sites and fuel depots within Russia. Meanwhile, Moscow continues to attempt territorial advances at a high cost in terms of casualties and has been intensifying attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure to disrupt heating and power for its citizens during the harsh winter months. A significant Russian missile strike on various Ukrainian regions recently prompted local authorities to implement power grid shutdowns in several areas.
