Outgoing UK PM Starmer visits Ukraine

Outgoing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited Ukraine on Thursday for his last trip to the war-torn nation before his departure from Downing Street next week.

Starmer was scheduled to meet President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv. He intended to assure Zelensky that the United Kingdom's commitment to supporting Ukraine would persist even after he is replaced by Andy Burnham. "Our cast-iron support for Ukraine will always endure," Starmer stated in comments released by his office.

Burnham is set to become the leader of the Labour Party on Friday and will assume the role of prime minister on Monday after meeting with King Charles III. Starmer's resignation followed a loss of confidence from Labour lawmakers after several domestic policy U-turns affected his popularity. Despite domestic challenges, he is highly regarded by many foreign leaders for his work on Ukraine and dedication to NATO.

Starmer, alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, has been instrumental in efforts to establish a peacekeeping force. This force aims to deter Russia should a peace deal be reached. Britain recently joined the European Union's 90-billion-euro ($103 billion) support loan for Ukraine.

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Our cast-iron support for Ukraine will always endure.