UK leader meets Zelensky in Ukraine in front of Trump's inauguration

UK leader meets Zelensky in Ukraine in front of Trump's inauguration

Kyiv, Ukraine (AP)- The British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Ukraine on Thursday and promised to guarantee the security of the country for a whole century, just a few days before Donald Trump was sworn in as US President.

100 years partnership agreement

The British government announced that Starmer and the Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj in Kyjiw will sign a "100-year partnership agreement" to cover areas such as defense, science, energy and trade.

First visit since taking office

Straßer’s unannounced visit is his first trip to Ukraine since its inauguration in July. Previously, he had visited the country as an opposition leader in 2023 and had had discussions with Selenskyj in Downing Street 10 since his take office.

British support for Ukraine

As one of the largest military supporters in Ukraine, the United Kingdom has promised £ 12.8 billion ($ 16 billion) in military and civil help since the large -scale attack three years ago and trained more than 50,000 Ukrainian soldiers on British soil. The Strander is expected to announce a further £ 40 million ($ 49 million) for the economic reconstruction of Ukraine after the war.

uncertainty about US help

The role of Great Britain is overshadowed by that of the United States, and there is great uncertainty about the fate of American support for Ukraine as soon as Trump takes office on January 20. The designated president questioned the costs for the US aid for Kyjiw, explains that he wanted to end the war quickly, and is planning a meeting with the Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he admired for a long time.

preparations for Trump's office

The allies of Ukraine have hurried to provide the country as much support as possible before Trump takes office to bring Ukraine into the strongest position for future negotiations to end war.

guarantees for the future of Ukraine

Selenskyj explained that Ukraine would need guarantees for its future protection from the much larger neighbors in every peace negotiation. Great Britain emphasizes that its 100-year promise is part of this guarantee and will make sure that Ukraine is "never susceptible to the brutality that was inflicted by Russia"-a country that annexed the Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and tried a large-scale attack in February 2022.

cooperation in defense and technology

The Agreement obliges the two sides to work in defense, especially in the area of ​​maritime security against Russian activities in the Baltic Sea, in the Black Sea and in the Asow Sea. It also includes technology projects, including drones that have become vital weapons for both sides in the war. The contract also includes a system to pursue stolen Ukrainian grain that is exported by Russia.

investment in a common future

"Putin's ambitions to cut Ukraine from their closest partners are a monumental strategic failure.

discussion about future military stationation

Selenskyj explained that he and Starmer will also discuss a plan proposed by France President Emmanuel Macron, which suggests that troops from France and other western countries are stationed in Ukraine to monitor an armory.

NATO membership of Ukraine

Selenskyj emphasized that such a proposal should also include a time frame for the NATO accession of Ukraine. The 32 Member States of the alliance emphasize that one day Ukraine will join, but only after the war. Trump gave the impression that Putin's position should not be part of NATO.

Current military developments

Since the persistent war approaches the three-year brand, both Russia and Ukraine are pushing for military profits before possible peace talks. Ukraine has launched a second offensive in the Russian region of Kursk, where it has difficulty keeping a piece of territory that it conquered last year, and has strengthened its drone and rocket attacks on arms warehouse and fuel deposits in Russia.

Moscow is slowly losing territory, but with high losses, along the 1,000 -kilometer front line in eastern Ukraine and carries out intensive attacks on the Ukraine energy system to withdraw the heat and light in the middle of winter. A large -scale Russian attack with ballistic rockets and marching aircraft on regions in the entire Ukraine forced the authorities to switch off the power grid in some areas.