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Sir Keir Starmer, UK prime minister, has travelled to Kyiv to sign a “100-year partnership” treaty between Britain and Ukraine, in a show of support for Volodymyr Zelenskyy ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration as US president next week.
Starmer is expected to discuss future military support for Ukraine, including whether Britain could join France and other countries in providing security guarantees, possibly including troops on the ground, in the event of Kyiv striking a peace deal with Russia.
While European officials are increasingly confident that Trump will not hastily withdraw US support for Ukraine after his inauguration next Monday, the timing of Starmer’s first visit to Kyiv since becoming prime minister is highly symbolic.
To illustrate Britain’s long-term commitment, Starmer will sign a “100-year partnership” with Ukraine at talks with Zelenskyy, spanning military and non-military issues and deepening community links.
Downing Street said the treaty, which will be laid before parliament in the coming weeks, would help to break down barriers to trade and growth and build cultural links over many generations.
Britain has been at the forefront of western countries offering military support for Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, but the question of whether the UK would put its troops on the ground as part of a European peacekeeping force will be a big test for Starmer.
His government is examining proposals to send British troops to Ukraine to provide military training, but has yet to comment on the issue of any potential deployment of peacekeepers. Some British officials believe the prospect of negotiations on Ukraine’s future both starting and concluding this year is overestimated.
Trump is looking to scale back US military commitments in Europe so Zelenskyy is expected to look to European countries to provide security guarantees, in the event of a negotiated end to the conflict with Russia.
President Emmanuel Macron of France has led consultations over security guarantees, including the possible deployment of troops. He held talks with Starmer at the UK prime minister’s Chequers country retreat last week.
“Putin’s ambition to wrench Ukraine away from its closest partners has been a monumental strategic failure,” Starmer said ahead of the Kyiv visit. “Instead, we are closer than ever, and this partnership will take that friendship to the next level.
“This is about an investment in our two countries for the next century, bringing together technology development, scientific advances and cultural exchanges, and harnessing the phenomenal innovation shown by Ukraine in recent years for generations to come.
To date, Britain has given a £12.8bn package of support to Ukraine, including £7.8bn of military assistance and a commitment for £3bn in annual military aid “for as long as it takes”, Downing Street said.
The Kyiv agreement is intended to bolster military collaboration on maritime security. It will also bring together experts to advance partnerships in areas such as healthcare and disease, agritech, space and drones, and build links between schools in the two countries.
It also formalises the UK as a preferred partner for Ukraine’s energy sector, critical minerals strategy and green steel production.
“The power of our long-term friendships cannot be underestimated,” Starmer said, adding that the UK was “supporting Ukraine to defend itself from Russia’s barbaric invasion and rebuild a prosperous, sovereign future”.
During the Kyiv trip, Starmer will visit a local school and hospital and also announce £40mn for a new economic recovery programme. The funding will be targeted at businesses supporting the green economy, and marginalised groups including women and veterans.
Starmer arrived in Kyiv by train and was met by the UK ambassador Martin Harris.
