Key facts
- Outgoing UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer made his final international trip to Kyiv on July 16.
- Starmer met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to reaffirm the UK's commitment to Ukraine.
- Starmer stated that the UK's support for Ukraine will endure after his successor, Andy Burnham, takes office.
- The UK has provided 150 British-made artillery barrels to Ukraine under a £61 million contract.
- Starmer's resignation followed a loss of confidence from his Labour Party.
- Andy Burnham is set to become Labour leader on Friday and prime minister on Monday.
Outgoing UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited Kyiv on July 16 for his final international trip, reaffirming the UK's "cast-iron" support for Ukraine. Starmer met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to stress that the nation's backing for Kyiv will continue after he steps down next week.
Starmer announced his resignation last month after losing the confidence of his Labour Party. His successor, Andy Burnham, is expected to become Labour leader on Friday and be appointed prime minister by King Charles III on Monday. Starmer stated that Ukraine's resistance has preserved Europe's security and that UK support will "always endure."
The visit follows Britain's participation in the EU's €90 billion Ukraine Support Loan, which grants British defense companies access to EU-funded contracts, with London covering a share of annual interest rates. Starmer has been a leading advocate for Ukraine in Europe, co-founding the "Coalition of the Willing" to plan long-term security guarantees.