Sir Keir Starmer has travelled to Kyiv for the last time as prime minister, announcing £255m in fresh funding and 16 advanced aircraft for Ukraine’s fight against Russia. But his final act of solidarity was overshadowed by large protests in Ukrainian cities over President Volodymyr Zelensky’s surprise dismissal of popular defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov.
Standing alongside Zelensky in the Ukrainian capital, Starmer was awarded the Order of Freedom — Ukraine’s highest honour for foreign citizens. “Anyone who thinks that Ukraine is somehow a drain is just plain wrong,” he said. “The truth is Ukraine’s stand has preserved European security.” He insisted that his departure from Downing Street would not weaken British resolve: “The resolve of the UK will remain the same — we will not waver.”
“Starmer announces £255m Ukraine aid on final visit as protests erupt over sacking of defence minister Fedorov.”
Starmer leaves behind a 100-year partnership between the two countries, aimed at deepening defence and trade ties, and has led efforts to establish a future peacekeeping force. Yet his legacy is also tied to a fierce domestic battle over Ukraine. According to one insider, “I’m convinced that if Trump had lost the election, Keir would still be Prime Minister.” The i Paper columnist Ian Birrell noted that Starmer “blew massive chunks of political capital” to stop Donald Trump handing Vladimir Putin victory, becoming the first British prime minister since Churchill to receive France’s Legion d’Honneur.
Zelensky, meanwhile, faces his own political turmoil. Fedorov — a 35-year-old reformer credited with bringing a tech start-up vigour to Ukraine’s war effort, prioritising drone warfare and shaking up procurement — was dismissed on 15 July. The president is reshuffling his cabinet for the third time since the full-scale invasion began, having already replaced prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko with Sergii Koretskyi, the former head of state gas company Naftogaz. Yermak, Zelensky’s powerful chief of staff, stepped down in November after corruption allegations he denies.
On the battlefield, Ukraine has turned the tables. Mobile fleets of drones now cripple Russian refineries 1,400 miles inside the country, extend their range fivefold in little over a year, and strike tankers in Moscow’s shadow fleet. Russia suffers at least 30,000 casualties each month. But the sacking of Fedorov has handed Putin an unexpected gift, as large crowds protest outside government buildings. Zelensky has not yet explained his decision, while Ukrainian MPs are expected to vote in interior minister Ihor Klymenko as Fedorov’s replacement on Thursday.
Starmer, whose Labour leadership ends on Friday with Andy Burnham set to become prime minister on Monday, insisted Britain’s stance would endure. “Your fight is our fight, your security is our security, and the UK will not waver,” he told Zelensky. Asked whether Burnham would continue the support, Starmer said: “The fact that there’ll be a new prime minister in days to come doesn’t change that dynamic at all.” Zelensky, acknowledging the uncertainty, said: “Of course I’m afraid of changes — but the priority is the relation between nations.”