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Starmer Signs 100-Year UK-Ukraine Deal Amid Kyiv Drone Attacks

Jan 16, 2025, 10:17 AM

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited Kyiv on January 16, 2025, in his first trip to Ukraine since taking office in July 2024. Upon arrival at the Kyiv railway station, he was greeted by Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, Ukraine's former Commander-in-Chief and current ambassador to the UK. Starmer met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to sign a landmark 100-year partnership agreement, referred to as the "Agreement of the Century," aimed at deepening security ties and strengthening cooperation in areas such as defense, energy, science, and trade. The agreement includes enhanced military aid, drone technology, maritime security support, and expanded training programs for Ukrainian military personnel. The UK pledged ongoing support, including £3 billion annually in aid to Ukraine, along with £100 million in humanitarian funding and £40 million to support Ukraine's economy. During the visit, Russia launched a drone attack on Kyiv, with air raid sirens and explosions heard across the capital. Ukrainian air defense systems intercepted the drones near the Mariinsky Palace, not far from the President's Office, where the leaders were holding talks. Despite the attack, Starmer emphasized the UK's unwavering support, stating, "We will never let up on our support for Ukraine." He described Vladimir Putin's invasion as a "monumental strategic failure," adding that the UK's partnership with Ukraine would "take our friendship to the next level." The UK will provide a new mobile air defense system to Ukraine as part of its continued assistance. The visit comes just days before Donald Trump's return to the White House, raising concerns about potential shifts in US policy toward Ukraine. In response, the UK is solidifying its commitment through the long-term partnership agreement. Discussions during the visit included topics such as future peace negotiations and the possibility of sending British forces to Ukraine to help guarantee peace once the war concludes. Starmer and Zelensky paid tribute to fallen Ukrainian soldiers by laying flowers at the Wall of Remembrance in Kyiv's Mykhailivska Square. Emphasizing a message of "peace through strength," Starmer reaffirmed the unbreakable bond between the UK and Ukraine, stating that the 100-year partnership is a promise that the UK will stand with Ukraine "not just today or tomorrow, but for a hundred years – long after this war is over and Ukraine is free and thriving once again."