Britain and Ukraine are set to sign a partnership agreement that will last for nearly 100 years. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he would give Ukraine the support it needs to put it in a stronger position to fight Russia in 2025, saying ahead of talks in Kiev with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy: "We must not give up."
"Now the NATO alliance is stronger than ever. The aftermath of this conflict has been the strongest NATO alliance ever. It is bigger and stronger than it has ever been, and we must stand behind Ukraine for as long as it takes. But when we say Ukraine must be in the strongest possible position, that cannot be just words and that is why I have had such intensive discussions with President Zelenskyy in the first months of my term, and I will do so again here in Ukraine," Starmer said.
Starmer's trip comes days after the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump in the White House, who has on several occasions underlined his desire to end the war between Ukraine and Russia, writes A2 CNN. Meanwhile, Kiev has said that the center of the talks between Starmer and Zelensky will also be the possibility of stationing Western troops in Ukraine to monitor a possible ceasefire agreement, a proposal initially put forward by French President Emmanuel Macron. As Starmer met officials in Kiev, a loud explosion was heard from Ukrainian air defense systems that shot down Russian drones.
As the war with Russia nears its three-year mark, Ukraine is struggling on the front lines. Ukrainian forces are suffering from a shortage of manpower and losing ground in the eastern Donetsk region as Russian troops continue their slow advance there. Since Russia’s invasion in 2022, Britain has been a vocal supporter of Ukraine, with Starmer’s predecessors visiting Kiev in their early days in office. The treaty and political declaration aim to boost military cooperation to strengthen security in the Baltic, Black and Azov Seas and deter Russian aggression. The treaty will also cover areas such as energy, critical minerals and green steel production, Starmer’s office said. (A2 Televizion)
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