The UK and Ukraine have announced a landmark 100-Year Partnership, formalising their enduring friendship and strengthening collaboration across defence, technology, and economic growth.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, during his visit to meet President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Ukraine, hailed the agreement as a pivotal step in supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and rebuilding its future in the face of ongoing Russian aggression.
Key Pillars of the Partnership
The 100-Year Partnership spans nine pillars, encompassing maritime security, technological collaboration, energy strategies, and cultural exchanges. Among the most significant commitments are:
- Maritime Security Framework: Strengthening security in the Baltic Sea, Black Sea, and Azov Sea to deter Russian aggression.
- Technological and Scientific Cooperation: Partnerships in healthcare, agri-tech, space, and drone technology.
- Economic Recovery and Resilience: Launching the TIGER programme (Triggering Investment Growth and Economic Resilience) with £40 million in UK funding to support small and medium enterprises, focusing on green industries, women-led businesses, and veterans.
Prime Minister Starmer emphasised the long-term significance of the agreement:
“This is not just about the here and now, it is also about an investment in our two countries for the next century, bringing together technology development, scientific advances, and cultural exchanges.”
Supporting Ukraine’s Defence and Economy
The agreement underscores the UK’s steadfast support for Ukraine, providing the foundation for long-term security and prosperity. Prime Minister Starmer highlighted Putin’s strategic failure, stating:
“Putin’s ambition to wrench Ukraine away from its closest partners has been a monumental strategic failure. Instead, we are closer than ever.”
The UK has committed £12.8 billion in support to Ukraine, including £7.8 billion in military aid, with a further £3 billion pledged for ongoing military assistance.
Humanitarian and Agricultural Support
In addition to military and economic collaboration, the UK is addressing humanitarian needs and global food security through innovative measures:
- Grain Verification Scheme: A cutting-edge initiative to track stolen Ukrainian grain, developed in response to a request from Ukraine to the G7. This database will help prevent the sale of grain illegally relabelled by Russia.
- Humanitarian Aid: The UK is allocating £100 million to provide specialist medical care, including for burn victims in Ukrainian hospitals, supported by NHS doctors.
Strengthening Cultural and Educational Bonds
The partnership extends beyond defence and economics to foster cultural and educational exchanges. Over 100 schools in the UK and Ukraine will collaborate on programmes that build lasting friendships and promote mutual understanding.
The Prime Minister joined a Ukrainian classroom virtually connected to a Liverpool school, celebrating the power of education and cultural exchange. This initiative will enable students to explore shared values and overcome adversity through storytelling and shared experiences.
A Strategic Vision for the Future
The partnership cements the UK’s role as a preferred ally in Ukraine’s energy and infrastructure rebuilding efforts, including green steel production and critical minerals strategies. An annual Strategic Dialogue will monitor the partnership’s progress to ensure its goals are met over the next century.
As Starmer noted, “Supporting Ukraine to defend itself from Russia’s barbaric invasion and rebuild a prosperous, sovereign future, is vital to this government’s foundation of security and our Plan for Change.”
This historic agreement reaffirms the UK’s commitment to standing with Ukraine in its fight for sovereignty and a brighter future.
Only 100 years? Why not a thousand? Or eternity?
Nothing to do with you, go suck up to president Elon and his cronies.
Bit of an assumption, kind of lays bare what is wrong with the world. Oh you have an opinion, you must be in support of this guy and everything he stands for. No….
Nothing about Gravehawk or the artillery supplied?
We are shipping Ukraine Grave-hawk mobile surface to air missile systems.
What with? a wing and prayer?. We buy better kit for Ukraine to use than our own clapped out Army has. Oh let me guess the pro Ukraine lot will get up set now and need a safe space to cry in. How can we fund a war and say we will send peace keeping troops when as a nation we are skint and our kit is on average 40 years ok, and we not have much of it. With tiny weak Army not much Ammo. Its a fantasy not in touch with reality.
How much did that cost and i bet its better than most of rubbish we have in service. Only one Air Defence Regt in the entire Armed Forces.
British politicians always lead with their mouths! I appreciate Starmer’s efforts as a “first mover” to get some action from what will be large growth in the Ukraine economy, post war. That said, will he accelerate warship building, f35 and typhoon procurement, boxer, challenger 3 and ajax production, to say nothing of increasing the army by10 to 20000 and commensurate increases in the RN and RAF?
Call it ambition, but I look forward to the delivery.
The Times is reporting no SDR increase in army numbers; but discussion about establishing a Homeland Defence Force.
A HDF?!!! 😆
So there is the distraction? Renaming what few assets already exist in the home defence role, shoving them them into a new organisation, no doubt paying for a few minor enhancements by cutting more actual expeditionary capability, and giving it all a new name!!!!! OMFG, if true, how utterly typical.
Perhaps they could up with another name like LDV, which also helpfully conjures U.K. other times in our history when we were desperate.
Leyland Daf Vans?
sjb, perhaps these guys could be issued with kitchen knives lashed to broomsticks as weapons and told to parade in their civvies until ‘battledress’ can be obtained!
We, especially Labour have always been World class at renaming things which costs money in its self, rather than making it better in its own right. Far too often simply a cover playing on people’s assumptions something is new, fresh and actually changing.
Paul, how can any MSM know what is in the SDR? Who is leaking…..and why?
It is the usual double standard which drives me nuts about HMG.
Desperate to be leaders on the World stage and grandstanding how we lead this and that, while dismantling our military at the same time.
They really cannot help themselves.
The Tories were no different, but I still fear these clowns may end up a whole lot worse.
The worry in all this is that we get into another up ended commitment to station troops in Ukraine. I don’t think Putin would stomach that kind of agreement but if he did just how many could we keep on station without reducing other commitments?
Perhaps Starmer will have to eat his words when Trump ‘demands’ 3.5% of GDP for all NATO nations. Even 2.5% is not really commited to in any senseable timescales and could be met by doing nothing and let inflation over time do it for him in the next 5 years. Perhaps his next trick could be ti include all of the aid spent on Ukraine as part of his 2.5 %. More Labour smoke and mirrors.
How about sending them invoices and a payment plan for the money taken from us under force and thrown at the Ukraine? How about ASKING us if we want to sponsor yet another corrupt failed state? Sick of living in a concemntration camp while being being forced to fund the freedoms of other states. Sick of our lying, sellout military fighting corporate wars and passing us the bill. When did “our” military EVER defend us? Just political/corporated dogs only happy to put targets on our backs while defending the interests of corporations and corrupt politicians. You all make me sick.
Not really the “uncomfortable truth” are you? More “random moaning on the internet”. Living in a “concentration camp”. Really??
Thanks for the update Vlad.
Has JohninMk rejoined us with a new Russian tv brief?
Only if he has had a serious breakdown or a hand grenade up his ass due to previous failures.
Had a bad day UT or have you always been a useful idiot ?
Anyone who goes into this kind of over exaggerated rant cannot be taken seriously.
Obvious Russian troll is obvious.
I’m perfectly happy for my tax money to go towards defending, and later rebuilding, Ukraine from Putin’s horde of drunken rapist Orcs.
The UK has truly become one of the world’s silliest countries. Truly silly.
Do us the silly walk Roy you know you want to
Strange how Python turned out to be a very accurate documentary of Britain’s future …
Should read “Starmer” not Britain. Most of us are fed up of virtue signalling politicians. Mind, he did look very “Zelensky” in his black tee eh? Wonder if that was a freebie from Ali?
Fact is there will be massive opportunities and he is right to talk about it, just a matter of whether it’s just talk. Anyone who has seen the progress of Poland will see the potential here too, hey some of it used to be Poland for christs sake. As usual however Britain has become far too much of a country of miserable, self flagerlating do nothing whingers who just, unlike our ancestors refuse to see such opportunities or just leave it to Johnny Foreigner. Will we ever see the light? I have my doubts.
Seen Starmer on the news in Poland saying that UK and Poland two biggest Military powers in Europe.Come on Starmer get real ,fair enough if you’ve secured some defence deals all good for the Economy but don’t be going round has if we have a big stick .The UK forces are smaller than ever thanks to cuts from Tory party and your lot which have more plans for cuts .While your over there it might be worth while taking a look at the size of the Polish forces compare to ours and how much there 4%GDP on Defence is doing… Read more »
Irrespective of who is in government now, this is an important long term strategic move for Great Britain. For those who don’t know much about Ukraine, it is far from being some backward country in Eastern Europe. It has a very long history that precedes Moscow by centuries, with its own language and culture. In the Soviet era it produced 40% of GDP of the whole Soviet Union. The famed Satan strategic ballistic missiles that threatened the West were designed and built in Ukraine. Despite the devastation of the war, it is rebuilding its arms industry and producing innovative solutions… Read more »
100 Years? What a ridiculous statement.
Free money for our barbarian friends from the east for 100 years, if civilization lasts that long with the current crop of f¥€£in’ idiots runnin’ the world.
A 100 year friendship deal for all humanity would be cool though.
🫶✌️
Barbarian?
Well you’ve always been a bit scummy but glad you’re showing us what you really are Ivan.
By “barbarians” I take it you mean Putin’s gaggle of drunken rapists? Because they’re the only barbarians in Europe right now.
Tell your paymaster to make peace.
That from a country GBP2.7trillion in debt which cannot secure it’s own borders.
Privatised profit, socialised / national debt with all the fiat currency created from nothing.