Sir Keir Starmer has arrived in Kyiv to sign what Downing Street is calling “a landmark 100-year partnership” with Ukraine.
The agreement would formally freeze the economic and military support already promised to the country, and provide more.
It is the first time the Prime Minister has visited the country since taking office last summer, showing support for Ukraine days before Donald Trump re-entered the White House.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is willing to discuss tougher security guarantees from major allies like the UK, warning that the new US administration could start forcing Ukraine to make peace with Russia.
Unlike other prime ministers who rushed to Kyiv, Sir Keir took the time to visit, but after six months in office he is now coming to Ukraine to pledge long-term support for what he calls “Russia’s illegal and barbaric aggression”.
He was greeted at Kyiv train station by the UK ambassador to Ukraine, Martin Harris, and the Ukrainian ambassador in London, Valerii Zaluzhnyi.
Speaking during his visit to the country, he said: “This is not just about the here and now, it is about investing in our two countries in the next century.”
“[Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s desire to distance Ukraine from its closest allies has been a major strategic failure. Instead, we are closer than ever, and this partnership will take that friendship to another level,” he added.
Zelensky was eager to discuss stronger security guarantees from key allies, fearing that the new US administration under President-elect Donald Trump could begin to pressure Ukraine to make peace with Moscow.
Trump’s choice for secretary of state, Marco Rubio, said earlier this week that both countries would have to come to an agreement to see an end to the war.
Thursday’s announcement includes more military and economic aid to back it up, as well as increased military cooperation in maritime security and drone technology, as well as health care.
Earlier Zelensky said he was looking to the UK for help in securing security guarantees to prevent future attacks.
Joining Nato is high on his wish list, but Ukraine also wants its allies to send peacekeepers to the country if the fighting stops, to patrol the front line that could be the limit to any peace deal.
Before the visit, Zelensky said this is something he will discuss with the prime minister.
It builds on the £12.8bn of support the UK has already given to Ukraine. The country has already committed to giving the country £3bn in military aid every year “for as long as it takes”.
Ukraine already uses British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles to attack Russian military bases far from the border.
Their arrival late last year was welcomed by Kyiv, but criticized by Moscow.
The partnership, created through an agreement and a political declaration, is due to be presented to Parliament in the coming weeks.
Its plans had begun under the previous Conservative government.
Starmer visited Ukraine when he was opposition leader in 2023, and has twice hosted President Zelensky in Downing Street since taking office.
Additional reporting by Alex Smith.
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