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45 minutes ago

Ukraine-Russia war live: Starmer pledges ‘100-year partnership’ with country as Putin’s drones attack Kyiv

Sir Keir Starmer said 150 Sheffield-made artillery barrels would be sent to Ukraine in the coming weeks

Sam Kiley,Alexander Butler
Friday 17 January 2025 00:03 GMT
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Starmer arrives in Kyiv as he pledges 100-year partnership

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British prime minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to deliver 150 artillery barrels to Ukraine as part of a “100-year partnership” with the country.

Sir Keir vowed to uphold the treaty signed with Ukraine on Thursday - a “historic” deal set to bring in more economic and military support for Kyiv in the future.

Struck by the “grim reminder” of war while visiting a burns hospital unit in Kyiv earlier today, the prime minister promised the UK would “play its full part” in guaranteeing Ukraine’s security.

The Sheffield-made guns will be delivered to Ukraine’s military over the next few weeks as part of this deal, Sir Keir said.

He said it is “the first time in over 20 years that these barrels were produced in the United Kingdom and they will start arriving in Ukraine in just a few weeks’ time.”

Vladimir Putin’s troops attacked Kyiv this morning as Sir Keir made the surprise visit to the war-torn city on Thursday.

Ukrainian air defences rushed to down a Russian drone as explosions were reported throughout the Ukrainian capital during Sir Keir’s trip.

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It comes as Russia launched a major ballistic and cruise missile attack across Ukraine, targeting energy infrastructure

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Alexander Butler16 January 2025 23:00
2 hours ago

Putin’s troops launch massive drone attack

Vladimir Putin’s troops have launched a massive overnight drone attack at Ukraine as UK prime minister Keir Starmer visited the country.

Russian forces launched 55 drones at Ukraine overnight, with Kyiv’s airforce able to down around 34 of them over 11 regions across the country.

It comes as Sir Keir slammed Russian president Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine as a “monumental failure” during a visit to Kyiv on Thursday.

Alexander Butler16 January 2025 22:00
3 hours ago

What is the 100-year partnership?

The 100-year “historic partnership” signed by the UK and Ukraine will see the flow of more military and economic aid to Kyiv.

It will also include increased military collaboration on maritime security and drone technology, as well as healthcare, Downing Street said.

Technology partnerships in areas such as agri-tech, space and drones will also be included, according to the prime minister’s office.

“From working together on the world stage to breaking down barriers to trade and growth and nurturing cultural links, the mutually beneficial partnership will see the UK and Ukraine advocate for each other to renew, rebuild and reform for generations to come,” No 10 said.

Alexander Butler16 January 2025 21:00
4 hours ago

Analysis: Starmer pledges aid as ‘threat is real’

Keir Starmer joining the rush of European leaders to Kyiv to offer support for Ukraine and, in Britain’s case a 100 years of defence cooperation is because the threat is real, The Independent’s World Affairs Editor Sam Kiley writes.

Donald Trump has signalled that he’s sympathetic to Vladimir Putin’s reasons for invading the sovereign nation and unsympathetic to its plans to join Nato.

Europe is, too late, waking up to the fact that soon US aid to Ukraine may be strangled off. Under Joe Biden, military aid of about $60 billion helped keep the Russian invaders at bay.

But it was restricted and only recently have the Ukrainians have been able to use what little they have been given to fight off the Russians with attacks inside their enemy’s national borders.

Starmer will sign a “100-Year Partnership” treaty in Kyiv covering areas including defence, science, energy and trade on his visit.

Sam Kiley16 January 2025 20:00
5 hours ago

Analysis: Visits send signal to Trump

The Italian defence chief was also in Kyiv on Thursday, two days after Germany’s defence minister visited and three days after Zelenskyy talked by phone with French President Emmanuel Macron.

These visits are intended to reassure Ukraine but also signal to the US that Europe is getting serious about defending Europe, The Independent’s World Affairs Editor Sam Kiley writes.

Trump’s recent demand that Nato nations should spend 5 per cent off the Gross Domestic Product on defence is being seen as difficult, but not unreasonable.

There are also signs that the Europeans don’t fully trust Trump in dealing with Russia over Ukraine and fears that he might favour the Kremlin over America’s long term allies.

Britain says its 100-year pledge is part of that assurance and will help ensure that Ukraine is “never again vulnerable to the kind of brutality inflicted on it by Russia”.

This bilateral agreement is intended to offset any decline in multilateral Nato support. The UK will be committed to work with Ukraine in defence, especially in the Black Sea, and drone technology.

Sam Kiley16 January 2025 19:00
6 hours ago

Watch: Zelensky and Starmer lay flowers at memorial to fallen Ukraine soldiers

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Alexander Butler16 January 2025 18:00
7 hours ago

Pictured: Starmer and Zelensky give press conference

Starmer and Zelensky give press conference announcing ‘100-year partnership’
Starmer and Zelensky give press conference announcing ‘100-year partnership’ (via REUTERS)
Alexander Butler16 January 2025 17:00
8 hours ago

UK should ‘only’ host Trump visit if he ‘delivers’ on Ukraine says Sir Ed Davey

UK should ‘only’ host Trump visit if he ‘delivers’ on Ukraine says Sir Ed Davey

The Liberal Democrat leader described the idea of a state visit as ‘leverage’ the UK would have over the president-elect.

Alexander Butler16 January 2025 16:00
9 hours ago

Sheffield-made artillery to be sent to Kyiv

British prime minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to deliver 150 artillery barrels to Ukraine as part of a “100-year partnership” with the country.

Sir Keir vowed to uphold the treaty signed with Ukraine on Thursday - a “historic” deal set to bring in more economic and military support for Kyiv in the future.

Struck by the “grim reminder” of war while visiting a burns hospital unit in Kyiv earlier today, the prime minister promised the UK would “play its full part” in guaranteeing Ukraine’s security.

The Sheffield-made guns will be delivered to Ukraine’s military over the next few weeks as part of this deal, Sir Keir said.

Alexander Butler16 January 2025 15:32

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