On his final day as prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer stood beside Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv and pledged “unwavering” support, announcing £255m in fresh funding including 16 new advanced aircraft. It was a visit that underscored a deeper reality: the UK's commitment to Ukraine has become a cornerstone of British foreign policy, surviving war, political change, and even protests on the streets of Kyiv itself.
The United Kingdom has been one of Ukraine's strongest backers since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Support has taken many forms: military aid, financial assistance, and diplomatic leadership. Starmer's visit—his fifth as prime minister—came with a symbolic flourish. He signed a 100-year partnership between the two countries, designed to deepen defence and trade ties for decades. The outgoing Labour leader made clear that this commitment would outlast his own tenure, saying “the resolve of the UK will remain the same” when his successor, Andy Burnham, takes office.
“Explains UK's ongoing support for Ukraine, Starmer's final visit, and the political changes ahead.”
The war itself has reshaped European security. As Starmer put it in Kyiv: “Anyone who thinks that Ukraine is somehow a drain is just plain wrong—the truth is Ukraine's stand has preserved European security.” This argument—that supporting Ukraine is a direct investment in Britain's own safety—has driven cross-party consensus in Westminster, from Boris Johnson's early leadership to Starmer's subsequent support.
Yet the political landscape on both sides is shifting. In Ukraine, President Zelensky has shaken up his government, firing the popular defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov on 15 July. Fedorov, 35, was credited with bringing a tech start-up ethos to the war effort, prioritising drone warfare and building relationships with Silicon Valley figures like Palantir's Alex Karp and Elon Musk. Large protests erupted in several Ukrainian cities over his removal. Zelensky has not explained the decision, but he has also replaced the prime minister, Yulia Svyrydenko, with Sergii Koretskyi, a technocrat from the energy sector. A new defence minister, Ihor Klymenko, is expected to be voted in. For Britain, the key question is whether these changes will affect Ukraine's war effort—and the UK's ability to support it.
The UK's support matters to British readers because it has direct consequences for national security, defence spending, and the country's standing on the world stage. The UK has hosted Ukrainian troops for training, provided long-range missiles, and led efforts to establish a future peacekeeping force. The new 100-year partnership aims to lock in this relationship beyond any single government or conflict. It also matters economically: the UK's defence industry, including firms supplying equipment, benefits from sustained orders. And symbolically, as Starmer noted, Ukrainian flags still fly above Downing Street, churches and town halls across the UK.
Q: Will UK support for Ukraine continue under a new prime minister? Sir Keir Starmer explicitly said that the change of leadership “doesn't change that dynamic at all” and that the UK “will not waver.” The 100-year partnership and cross-party consensus make a dramatic shift unlikely, though the new prime minister, Andy Burnham, will face his own pressures on spending and foreign policy.
Q: Why did President Zelensky fire his defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov? Zelensky has not given a public explanation. Fedorov was seen as a popular reformer who modernised Ukraine's military procurement and pushed drone warfare. His dismissal, part of a wider cabinet reshuffle, sparked large protests in Ukrainian cities. Analysts suggest Zelensky may be seeking more experienced leadership or addressing internal political dynamics.
Q: What is the 100-year partnership between the UK and Ukraine? Signed by Sir Keir Starmer, this agreement aims to broaden defence and trade cooperation for a century. It covers closer military ties, economic collaboration, and long-term strategic alignment. The deal is meant to ensure that UK support for Ukraine persists regardless of short-term political changes in either country.
What happens next is a period of transition in both capitals. In the UK, Andy Burnham becomes prime minister on Monday, inheriting a clear policy line on Ukraine but facing domestic challenges like the renationalisation of British Steel. In Ukraine, President Zelensky will manage the fallout from Fedorov's firing while preparing for another winter of Russian strikes on critical infrastructure. The UK's new leader will likely make an early call on how to maintain the momentum Starmer described—when Ukraine is “in its strongest position since the start of Russia's full-stage invasion.”
