UK prime minister visits Ukraine to cement 100-Year Partnership with Zelenskyy

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer made an unannounced visit to Ukraine on January 16, pledging a historic commitment to guarantee the country’s security for a century.

His arrival came just days before Donald Trump’s swearing-in as U.S. president, raising concerns over future American support for Ukraine amid Trump’s critical stance on U.S. involvement in the war, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

During his visit, Starmer and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are expected to sign a “100-Year Partnership” treaty in Kyiv, which will cover defence, science, energy, and trade. This treaty is seen as an important step in fortifying Ukraine’s long-term security, especially as the country continues to face ongoing Russian aggression.

This marks Starmer’s first trip to Ukraine since assuming office in July. He had previously visited the country in 2023 while serving as opposition leader and has met with Zelenskyy twice in Downing Street since becoming Prime Minister.

The United Kingdom has been one of Ukraine’s biggest military backers, pledging 12.8 billion pounds ($16 billion) in military and civilian aid since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. Furthermore, over 50,000 Ukrainian troops have been trained on British soil. Starmer is also expected to announce an additional 40 million pounds ($49 million) for Ukraine’s post-war economic recovery.

However, the UK’s support is overshadowed by the U.S. role in Ukraine’s defence and the looming uncertainty regarding the future of American aid after Trump’s inauguration. The president-elect has expressed concerns over the cost of U.S. aid to Kyiv, stating that he wants to bring the war to a swift end, and has plans to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, a leader he has long admired.

In response to this uncertainty, Ukraine’s allies are working to strengthen Ukraine’s position before Trump assumes office. The aim is to ensure that Ukraine is in the strongest possible position for any future negotiations to end the war.

Zelenskyy has emphasized that Ukraine will need assurances about its protection from Russia in any peace talks. In this context, the British government has described the 100-year partnership as a way to guarantee Ukraine’s future security, ensuring that it is “never again vulnerable to the kind of brutality inflicted on it by Russia,” which annexed Crimea in 2014 and launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022.

The treaty outlines areas of cooperation between the UK and Ukraine, particularly in defence, including maritime security in the Baltic Sea, Black Sea, and the Sea of Azov, as well as joint technology projects such as drones. The treaty also includes a system to help track stolen Ukrainian grain that Russia has been exporting from occupied regions.

Starmer articulated the significance of the partnership, saying, “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 further added, “This is not just about the here and now, it is also 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.”

Additionally, Zelenskyy and Starmer are expected to discuss a proposal by French President Emmanuel Macron to station troops from France and other Western countries in Ukraine to oversee a potential ceasefire agreement. Zelenskyy has indicated that any such agreement should be accompanied by a timeline for Ukraine to join NATO. While NATO members have affirmed that Ukraine will eventually become a member, they have stated that this will occur only after the war’s conclusion. Trump has expressed support for Putin’s view that Ukraine should not be a part of NATO.

As the war enters its third year, both Russia and Ukraine are preparing for continued battlefield engagements. Ukraine has initiated a second offensive in Russia’s Kursk region, where it is battling to retain territory captured last year. Meanwhile, Ukraine has ramped up drone and missile attacks on key Russian sites, including weapons depots and fuel facilities.

On the other hand, Russia continues to make slow territorial gains along the 600-mile (1,000-kilometer) front line in eastern Ukraine, while launching intense missile barrages against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. These attacks aim to deprive Ukrainians of essential services such as heat and electricity, particularly as winter sets in. A major Russian missile strike on Wednesday led to power grid shutdowns in several regions.

 By Vugar Khalilov