Putin’s forces launch drone attack on Kyiv as Starmer visits to sign ‘100-year deal’ - Sir Keir Starmer is set to also discuss deploying soldiers to Ukraine with Volodymyr Zelensky during a surprise v

By Olena Harmash KYIV (Reuters) -British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Thursday he would give Ukraine the support it needed to put it in the strongest position to fight Russia in 2025, saying before talks in Kyiv with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy: "We mustn't let up".

Precisely when Sir Keir finds himself on a plane over the Atlantic, and which leaders are invited before him, will be pored over – and there are clearly some, such as Georgia Meloni, the Prime Minister of Italy and the Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orban, who are ideologically much closer to the president than Sir Keir will ever be.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Ukraine Thursday with a pledge to help guarantee the country’s security for a century, days before Donald Trump is sworn in as US president.

The Kremlin has dismissed previous Western claims that Russia sponsored acts of sabotage and attacks in Europe

Keir Starmer will meet President Volodymyr Zelensky for talks on strengthening the bond between the UK and Ukraine in the face of Russia’s brutal onslaught

Keir Starmer will travel to Ukraine in the coming weeks to discuss the possibility of deploying an international peacekeeping force there after the conflict with Russia has ended, his first visit to the war-torn nation since becoming UK prime minister half a year ago.

The prime minister was speaking to Sky News's political editor Beth Rigby while on a surprise visit to Ukraine on Thursday.

Arriving on Thursday morning, he accompanied Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to lay flowers at a wall of remembrance for those killed in the war with Russia - telling reporters the UK will "never let up" on giving the necessary support to Ukraine.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged on Thursday to work with Ukraine and allies to offer Kyiv robust security guarantees if a ceasefire is negotiated with Russia, offering more support to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy with a 100-year partnership deal.

Sir Keir’s first visit to Kyiv since entering No 10 coincided with a drone attack by Russian president Vladimir Putin’s forces on the Ukrainian capital. The prime minister heard sirens warning Kyiv’s citizens of the air raid as he met Mr Zelensky – a moment he said highlighted the “incredible resolve” of the Ukrainian people.

Russia downed more than 200 Ukrainian drones and five US-made ATACMS ballistic missiles, according to the popular Shot Telegram channel. Flight restrictions were imposed in the southern Russian cities of Kazan, Saratov, Penza, Ulyanovsk and Nizhnekamsk, Russia’s aviation watchdog said.