Starmer Vows Britain’s Support for Ukraine Will Not Waver in Final Kyiv Visit
The trip signals London intends to guarantee long-term military, financial, diplomatic backing for Ukraine through multilateral cooperation.
Overview
- On 16 July the outgoing prime minister met Volodymyr Zelensky, received Ukraine’s Order of Freedom and publicly pledged that UK backing will continue despite an imminent change of prime minister.
- Starmer announced a €300 million UK contribution, working with Sweden, to help deliver 16 Saab Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine by 2029 to strengthen its ability to defend its skies.
- Earlier in the week he confirmed the UK will join the EU’s €90 billion loan package for Kyiv, tying the bilateral pledges into wider European financing for Ukraine’s war effort.
- During the visit Starmer toured the Podilskyi district hit by recent Russian strikes, where officials reported eight dead, dozens injured and scores of apartment buildings destroyed or damaged.
- Leaders signed a One Hundred Year Partnership to institutionalize ties, Zelensky said Britain’s total support has passed £11 billion, and ministers said the Gripen plan will support thousands of UK supply‑chain jobs while modernizing Ukraine’s air defences.