Keir Starmer insists Ukraine can win warfare in opposition to Russia’s Putin – ‘tide is popping’
EXCLUSIVE: In his last newspaper interview before standing down, Keir Starmer told The Mirror Ukraine was the ‘defining cause of our time’ and said the UK would remain steadfast under his successor Andy Burnham
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meets with Keir Starmer in Kyiv, Ukraine, on July 16, 2026(Image: AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Keir Starmer has said Ukraine can win the war against Russia and said Britain must not waver in its backing for Kyiv.
The Prime Minister used his final foreign trip to travel to the war-torn country to demonstrate his backing for President Volodymr Zelensky as Vladimir Putin’s illegal war grinds on for a fifth year.
In his last newspaper interview before standing down, he told The Mirror that Ukraine was the “defining cause of our time” and said the UK would remain steadfast in its support for Ukraine under his successor Andy Burnham.
Mr Starmer took the message directly to President Zelensky to ease any jitters in Kyiv over the change of leadership in Britain, one of its staunchest allies. Speaking to The Mirror, he said: “Ukraine in many senses is the defining cause of our time because this is a fight about the values of democracy and freedom that are hugely important to the United Kingdom.
“They’re part of who we are, and therefore this fight is our fight. It’s really important for me to demonstrate just how strongly I feel that Ukraine must be supported in this fight, and that we share their values and we stand with them from start to finish.”
The Prime Minister insisted that this wouldn’t change under Mr Burnham, adding: “I’m absolutely confident when I say our support will not waver. And we’ll see that in the coming weeks.”
Asked if he believed Ukraine could win this war, he said: “When this conflict started, it was said that Russia would succeed in a matter of a few weeks. We’re now in the fifth year. In the last six months alone, the Ukrainians have pushed the Russians back on the front line. They’ve reached into Russia with medium and long-range attacks.
“The sanctions are having an effect. The work we’re all doing on the shadow fleet is having an effect. And they’ve built one of the most impressive and effective militaries in Europe over the course of the last four years.
“I think the tide is turning, has turned, and I’m sure they will go on and win this.”
Earlier, President Zelensky admitted he was concerned about changes of leadership in Britain, and in France next year, but said the bonds between countries were strong.
He said: “Of course I’m afraid of changes, of course we are afraid because we are in the war each day. But again the priority is the relation between nations, not just between just people. I’m sure that these relations will not change, or we have to do our best not to lose such very good relations.”
President Zelensky said he hoped to meet Andy Burnham, the incoming PM, as soon as possible. He added: “I hope we will never lose strong relations with the UK during or after the war.” Mr Starmer replied: “You won’t.”
In a warm meeting at the Presidential Palace in Kyiv, President Zelensky gave Mr Starmer Ukraine’s “Order of Freedom”, the highest honour that can be bestowed on a foreigner.
The pair also laid wreaths for Ukraine’s fallen heroes at the Wall of Remembrance before holding a private meeting in the garden. Mr Starmer also visited the wreckage caused by a Russian strike on residential buildings in Kyiv earlier this month.
He met first responders who rushed to the scene, as missiles destroyed 41 apartments, and damaged another 250, killing eight civilians and injuring seven more. Mr Starmer also announced a €300 million package to equip Ukraine with advanced fighter jets to defend its skies from Russian bombardment.
It will allow Kyiv to field a squadron of 16 Gripen E fighter jets by 2029, capable of air-to-air combat, strikes on ground targets, and reconnaissance missions.
