UK Prime Minister visits Ukraine as countries prepare to sign partnership agreement
Photo: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer (Getty Images)
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has arrived in Ukraine for an official visit. He is scheduled to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and an agreement to expand military aid to Ukraine is expected to be signed, The Guardian reports.
The UK Prime Minister is expected to discuss with Zelenskyy the security guarantees the UK can offer Kyiv, including the potential participation of British troops in post-war peacekeeping forces.
"Putin's ambition to wrench Ukraine way from its closest parters has been a monumental strategic failure. Instead, we are closer than ever, and this partnership will take that friendship to the next level," Starmer stated ahead of the visit.
Following the visit, Ukraine and the UK will sign a partnership agreement to deepen existing defense relations, proposing further military assistance to Kyiv. The agreements come amid concerns that the potential return of Donald Trump to power in the United States might lead to reduced support for Ukraine.
The funding will be directed toward enterprises supporting the green economy, as well as marginalized groups, including women and veterans.
The media resource notes that Starmer plans to announce a £40 million package for Ukraine to help rebuild its economy, creating opportunities for British companies.
This funding is part of the broader £12.8 billion in support the UK has already provided to Ukraine, including £7.8 billion in military aid and ongoing support for Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
However, the timeline for the announced aid delivery remains unclear.
Deployment of peacekeepers to Ukraine
On January 9, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Prime Minister Keir Starmer's upcoming visit to Kyiv, noting that discussions would include the potential deployment of a peacekeeping contingent to Ukraine.
Zelenskyy also mentioned that the idea of deploying peacekeepers had been discussed with Baltic partners and would be raised with Starmer.
According to media reports, Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron are already discussing deploying their military personnel as part of a peacekeeping contingent in Ukraine.
