Thu Jan 16 14:55:43 UTC 2025: ## UK and Ukraine Sign Landmark 100-Year Partnership Amidst Russian Attacks and Trump Fears
**Kyiv, Ukraine** – Amidst a backdrop of Russian drone attacks and escalating fears over a potential shift in US support under a Trump presidency, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer made an unannounced visit to Kyiv on Thursday, signing a landmark 100-year partnership agreement with Ukraine.
The agreement pledges deepened defense cooperation and support for Ukraine’s defense industry, recognizing Ukraine as a future NATO ally. Starmer hailed it as “the very first of its kind,” reflecting the strong bond between the two nations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky echoed this sentiment, calling the agreement “truly comprehensive.”
Starmer’s visit, his first to Kyiv since taking office, coincided with a flurry of diplomatic activity by Zelensky as he seeks to solidify Western support before Donald Trump’s inauguration next week. Trump’s past statements expressing a willingness to pressure Ukraine into concessions and potentially curtail US aid have raised serious concerns in Kyiv and Europe.
The 100-year pact comes as Ukraine faces intensified fighting in the east, with Russia reportedly making gains. Zelensky acknowledged Russia’s initiative in the east but highlighted Ukraine’s continued control of some Russian territory. He reiterated that any peace deal must guarantee Ukraine’s security and independence, and explicitly stated that Kyiv won’t consider security guarantees without US involvement.
While Starmer did not commit to deploying British troops to Ukraine to oversee a potential ceasefire – a proposal previously floated by French President Emmanuel Macron – he emphasized the UK’s commitment to ensuring Ukraine is in “the strongest possible position.” The UK has already pledged £12.8 billion in military and civilian aid since the start of the war and continues its significant financial support.
This intensified diplomatic activity underscores the precarious situation on the ground and the anxieties surrounding a potential shift in US policy under the incoming Trump administration. Italy’s defense minister also arrived in Kyiv on Thursday for talks, while Zelensky recently called on the West to utilize frozen Russian assets to fund Ukrainian weapons purchases. The coming days and weeks will be critical in determining the future trajectory of the conflict.
First Piper 