Ukraine and UK sign 100-year partnership agreement: Details
Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Keir Starmer (Getty Images)
Today, on January 16, Ukraine and the United Kingdom will sign an important agreement marking 100 years of partnership. The purpose of the agreement is to deepen ties in defense and non-military spheres, the UK government says.
The agreement is expected to be signed today when UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrives in Ukraine on an official visit. The agreement will be based on nine main pillars.
The treaty will strengthen military cooperation in the field of maritime security through a new structure to strengthen the security of the Baltic, Black, and Azov Seas and deter Russian aggression.
The agreement will bring together experts to develop scientific and technological partnerships in areas such as healthcare, agro-technology, space, and drones, as well as to build friendly relations through training projects. In addition, the UK will launch a grain verification scheme to track stolen grain from the occupied Ukrainian territories.
The agreement also secures the UK's status as a partner for Ukraine's energy sector, strategy for the extraction of critical minerals, and production of clean steel.
The treaty and political declaration, which form a 100-year partnership, will be presented to Parliament in the coming weeks.
The UK government also noted that Starmer will announce £40 million (more than $47 million) for a new economic recovery program that will unlock hundreds of millions in private lending to support the growth and economic resilience of small and medium-sized businesses in Ukraine.
Starmer's visit to Ukraine
On Thursday, January 16, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Ukraine. This is his first visit to Ukraine as head of the British government.
In Kyiv, Starmer will meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The leaders are to sign an agreement today on a historic partnership for 100 years.
The British government is also expected to announce new aid packages for Ukraine.
