Starmer pledges lasting UK support to Ukraine on final PM trip
Prime Minister Keir Starmer used his final visit to Kyiv to guarantee ongoing British military backing for Ukraine, signalling policy continuity for European defence contractors ahead of his departure next week.
Sir Keir Starmer has travelled to Kyiv for a final meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky before handing power to Andy Burnham on Monday. "I am so proud of what Britain has contributed. That work will continue, and our cast-iron support for Ukraine will always endure," Starmer said ahead of the trip.
For European defence industries, the visit signalled procurement continuity ahead of a change in Downing Street. Starmer highlighted a £61 million contract with BAE Systems to provide 150 British-made artillery barrels to Ukrainian forces. He framed this as part of a wider strategy to lead on "war fighting technologies of the future" and increase domestic defence investment.
That industrial backing is underpinned by a 100-year partnership signed during Starmer's tenure to foster lasting defence and trade ties. "When I became prime minister, I knew the UK must not simply stand with Ukraine in the moment, but help build the foundations of its long-term security and success," he said. He also highlighted his efforts to establish a future peacekeeping force.
On the diplomatic front, Starmer emphasised his success in aligning allies, pointing to recent G7 and Nato summits where he said the UK and its partners demonstrated unity against Russian aggression. His visit follows a Nato meeting in Turkey where Zelensky urged member states to focus heavily on air defence systems to counter intense Russian strikes.
That air defence gap is now being addressed after US President Donald Trump granted Ukraine permission to produce Patriot missiles, a move expected to help defend Kyiv against ballistic attacks. The need for such systems remains acute, as Russia continues to strike Ukrainian infrastructure. The Kremlin said it recently hit port facilities in Odesa used for unloading petroleum, oil and lubricants, with separate attacks on Black Sea oil tankers killing eight people.
Starmer's farewell to the House of Commons on Wednesday drew rare praise from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch for his work on Ukraine. He recalled the "emotional moment" of hosting Zelensky in Downing Street shortly after the Ukrainian leader's February 2025 White House dispute with Trump. Burnham will become Labour leader on Friday and is expected to inherit this unwavering stance.
