Sir Keir Starmer pledges Britain’s “cast-iron support” for Ukraine in final foreign trip before Andy Burnham takes power.
Sir Keir Starmer has travelled to Ukraine for his final overseas visit as Prime Minister, arriving in Kyiv hours after Russian missiles struck the capital in a brutal overnight barrage.
The outgoing Prime Minister is due to meet President Volodymyr Zelensky in a high-security trip aimed at reaffirming Britain’s continued support for Ukraine ahead of the leadership change at Westminster.
The visit marks Sir Keir’s 49th overseas trip since entering Downing Street and comes as Ukraine faces another wave of Russian attacks.
Russian missiles struck multiple areas of Kyiv early on Thursday, causing fires, damaging buildings and hitting a school, according to local officials.
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Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said warehouses in the west of the city were hit, with debris falling near the Dnipro River and emergency crews battling major fires.
Ukraine’s air force said one ballistic missile and 25 drones were launched during the attack, striking 17 locations, with debris reported across several areas.
Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed the strikes targeted Ukrainian military production facilities involved in manufacturing long-range missiles and drones.
The assault followed another deadly Russian attack on Tuesday night that killed 14 people across Ukraine.
🇬🇧🇺🇦 Zelensky: We paid tribute to the fallen Ukrainian soldiers together with the Prime Minister of Great Britain, Keir Starmer.
Thank you to Keir and Great Britain for the unwavering respect for our soldiers, for all who gave their all to protect Ukraine and all of Europe.… pic.twitter.com/YYzb8HUy4K
— Beefeater (@Beefeater_Fella) July 16, 2026
Ahead of his meeting with Mr Zelensky, Sir Keir insisted Britain’s backing for Ukraine would continue after he leaves office. “Our cast-iron support for Ukraine will always endure,” he said.
The Prime Minister said Britain had worked to strengthen European security, increase defence investment and support Ukraine’s long-term ability to resist Russian aggression.
His comments come as Andy Burnham prepares to take over as Labour leader and become Prime Minister next week.
Mr Burnham has already promised to maintain support for Kyiv, saying he would continue backing Ukraine’s defence effort.
The Kyiv visit has also fuelled speculation that Sir Keir could seek the role of Nato Secretary General when the position becomes available in 2028.
Business Secretary Peter Kyle rejected suggestions the trip was a political audition, saying the importance of countering Russia could not be underestimated.
He said Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty depended on strong international leadership.
Sir Keir’s final days in office have focused heavily on his foreign policy record, including his support for Ukraine and closer European security ties.
He was recently awarded France’s Legion d’honneur by President Emmanuel Macron for his contribution to relations between Britain and Europe.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch also praised Sir Keir’s response after Ukrainian President Zelensky faced criticism during his visit to the White House, saying inviting him to Downing Street was the “right thing to do”.
As Britain prepares for a change of government, Sir Keir’s message from Kyiv was clear: the country’s commitment to Ukraine will outlast his premiership.
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