The Prime Minister is traveling to Kyiv on Thursday to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Keir Starmer (Image: Getty)
Sir Keir Starmer has said the UK’s “cast-iron” support of Ukraine will “always endure” while making a final visit to the country as Prime Minister.
The outgoing Labour leader will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a high-security trip to the war-torn country’s capital Kyiv on Thursday for the last time before leaving No 10.
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The Prime Minister said:“Throughout this conflict, I have seen the incredible fortitude of the Ukrainian people and the iron will of a nation that refuses to be cowed. Their stand has not only defended its own freedom, it has preserved the security of Europe.
“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. That’s why we put the UK at the centre of a stronger Europe – investing more money into defence, leading the way in the war fighting technologies of the future and doing everything we can to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position.
“And we have brought others with us on that journey. As we showed at the G7 and NATO Summits in recent weeks: the UK and its allies are absolutely united against Russian aggression.
“I am so proud of what Britain has contributed. That work will continue, and our cast-iron support for Ukraine will always endure. Not just for them and for European security, but for families in Britain who have felt the cost of this war through rising prices.”
Sir Keir co-founded the “coalition of the willing” which is a 34-nation strong group ready to support peace through robust security guarantees.
The PM went to Paris earlier this week to secure a deal for Ukraine in a bid to cement his legacy.
Sir Keir will be ousted as Labour leader on Friday, and booted from No10 on Monday.
The trip comes days after Ukrainian air defences intercepted five ballistic missiles launched by Russia in a raft of night attacks, the country’s air force said, though other missiles and drones got through and hit Kyiv.
In the capital, the attack caused fires at two warehouses, while a school was also damaged, the city’s mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
The Russian Defence Ministry said in a statement that the attack targeted military manufacturing facilities in the Ukrainian capital that produce long-range missiles and drones.
Ukraine’s air force said one ballistic missile and 25 drones struck 17 locations, while falling debris was reported in 10 locations.
