UK Prime Minister Signs Historic 100-Year Partnership Deal with Ukraine

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UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer made a surprise visit to Kyiv on Thursday, where he signed a significant security and trade pact with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This partnership, described as a 100-year deal, aims to strengthen military collaboration between the two nations amid rising concerns regarding Russian aggression.

During his first visit to Ukraine since becoming Prime Minister in July 2024, Starmer emphasized the importance of deepening Defence ties and providing additional military assistance as the situation in Ukraine remains precarious, especially with the impending return of former U.S. President Donald Trump. The pact is expected to be reviewed by the British Parliament in the coming weeks.

The treaty focuses on enhancing security across key maritime regions, including the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea, to deter ongoing threats from Russia. Zelenskyy expressed interest in discussing the potential deployment of Western troops in Ukraine to monitor a potential ceasefire, in light of previous suggestions from French President Emmanuel Macron.

In related developments, the Ukrainian military reported capturing 27 Russian troops in Kursk, while Ukraine successfully downed 34 out of 55 attacking drones launched by Russia, indicating ongoing intense military engagements. President Zelenskyy also appealed for the use of roughly $250 billion in unallocated frozen Russian assets to bolster Ukraine's defense capabilities.

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