Keir Starmer vows to ‘weaken hand of Putin’ as he embraces Zelensky

Keir Starmer has pledged the UK will do all it can to “weaken the hand of Putin” during a meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky.

The PM welcomed the Ukrainian president to Downing Street on Tuesday, and reiterated the UK’s support for Kyiv, saying: “Our resolve is unbreakable.”

It came as the King earlier welcomed Mr Zelensky to Buckingham Palace as the Ukrainian president visits the UK to sign a new defence deal.

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Speaking as the pair met in Downing Street, the PM said: “Let me start by paying tribute to the courage and resilience of the Ukrainian people over four years of this conflict, they’ve shown incredible courage, both on the front line and the civilians day in, day out. I hope that you can convey to them again that the UK stands with them for as long as it may take, our resolve is unbreakable, and will remain in that way.

“I think it’s really important that we’re clear that the focus must remain on Ukraine. There is obviously a conflict in Iran, going on in the Middle East, but we can’t lose focus on what’s going on in Ukraine and the need for our support there. Secondly, it’s really important that we’re clear and consistent that Putin can’t be the one who benefits from the conflict in Iran, whether that’s oil prices or the dropping of sanctions. It’s really important that we keep up our resolve in relation to supporting Ukraine and doing everything we can to weaken the hand of Putin.”

Mr Zelensky thanked the UK for its support over the winter. He said: “Thanks to the UK, you have stood with us all through this difficult winter.” The Ukrainian president said he would update The PM Keir on battlefield developments and energy security, saying: “Of course, we can’t sleep, we must move quickly.” He added: “Also not to forget about our diplomatic efforts and negotiations and where we are with the Americans and with the Russians.” Mr Zelensky also acknowledged the impact of the Iran war on Ukraine and Europe.

Earlier PM called for allies to “work in lockstep” to deliver global security after signing of a new defence deal between Britain and Ukraine. Downing Street said the partnership with Kyiv would bring together “Ukrainian expertise and the UK’s industrial base” to manufacture and supply drones and other capabilities. As part of the agreement, the UK will put £500,000 towards a new “AI centre of excellence” in Kyiv, which would be made up of experts working to see how the technology can best be used for a “battlefield advantage”, No 10 said.

The meeting comes at a time of heightened global instability in light of the Middle East conflict, during which US President Donald Trump has vented frustrations with the UK and other countries over the extent of their involvement, and the Ukraine war. The war in Iran has seen a rise in energy prices that has benefited the Russian despot Vladimir Putin despite worldwide sanctions. Last week the US temporarily announced it had eased sanctions preventing other countries buying Russian oil which was already loaded on vessels at sea.