Russia-Ukraine war live: Keir Starmer signs '100-year deal' in Kiev | World News
British Prime Minister made a surprise visit to Kyiv to sign the "100-year agreement"
Hello and welcome to The Guardian's live coverage of Russia's war in Ukraine.
British Prime Minister, Keir StarmerArrives in Kiev to sign security and trade agreement with Ukraine, public show of support Vladimir Zelensky Ahead of his much-anticipated return Donald Trump Head to the White House on Monday.
The two countries will sign a partnership agreement to deepen existing defense ties and provide further military aid to Kiev amid concerns that Trump could reduce aid to Kiev as Russia continues its battlefield victories .
Starmer is visiting Ukraine today for the first time since becoming Prime Minister in July last year. He will sign a 100-year partnership agreement with Kyiv, which will be submitted to the British Parliament in the coming weeks.
Starmer's office said the treaty was aimed at deterring Russia's continued aggression and would strengthen military cooperation by enhancing security in the Baltic, Black and Azov Seas.
Zelensky had earlier said he and Starmer would discuss the possibility of having Western troops stationed in Ukraine to monitor a ceasefire, a proposal initially proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron but over disagreements.
Trump vowed to end the war within 24 hours of taking office, but did not specify how. Negotiating pressure is expected to intensify when his government takes office next week.
Trump’s nominee for Secretary of State, Marco Rubiotold the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that the new administration would pursue "bold diplomacy" to end the war. "The Russian Federation has to make concessions and Ukraine has to make concessions," he said yesterday.
You can read more about Starmer's visit to Kyiv and what it says about Europe's views on Trump's Ukraine policy here.
Keir Starmer (center) is greeted by Ukrainian officials and British Ambassador to Ukraine Martin Harris (right) after arriving at a Kiev train station. Photograph: Carl Court/AFP/Getty Images
Here are some other recent developments:
Ukraine's military said on Thursday its forces had captured more than two dozen soldiers in Russia's western region. KurskRussian forces have been trying to oust Ukrainian forces for the past five months. "Ukrainian paratroopers, together with neighboring troops, captured 27 enemy servicemen in the Kursk region," a military statement said, adding that Russian troops had surrendered.
Ukraine's air force said it shot down 34 of 55 Russian drones launched in 11 regions of the country in a night attack, while another 18 failed to reach their targets.
Russia launched missiles and drones at Ukrainian energy facilities on Wednesday, a day after Kiev said it carried out the largest air strikes of the war on Russian army factories and energy centers hundreds of kilometers from the front line. The mayor of the southern city of Kherson said the attack caused power outages. After the attack, Zelensky called on the West to use some $250 billion in unallocated frozen Russian assets to buy Kiev weapons.
Poland told other EU members that Europe must "take responsibility" for its own security as Warsaw takes over the bloc's rotating presidency at a time of growing geopolitical uncertainty.
key events
As we mentioned in our opening article, the Ukrainian Air Force said that Ukrainian forces shot down 34 of the 55 drones launched by Russia overnight. Local authorities now say debris from the fallen drone damaged energy infrastructure in central Ukraine. PoltavaAccording to reports, more than 300 customers were left without power. The region borders Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovolad, Cherkasy and Kiev oblasts.
British Prime Minister made a surprise visit to Kyiv to sign the "100-year agreement"
Hello and welcome to The Guardian's live coverage of Russia's war in Ukraine.
British Prime Minister, Keir StarmerArrives in Kiev to sign security and trade agreement with Ukraine, public show of support Vladimir Zelensky Ahead of his much-anticipated return Donald Trump Head to the White House on Monday.
The two countries will sign a partnership agreement to deepen existing defense ties and provide further military aid to Kiev amid concerns that Trump could reduce aid to Kiev as Russia continues its battlefield victories .
Starmer is visiting Ukraine today for the first time since becoming Prime Minister in July last year. He will sign a 100-year partnership agreement with Kyiv, which will be submitted to the British Parliament in the coming weeks.
Starmer's office said the treaty was aimed at deterring Russia's continued aggression and would strengthen military cooperation by enhancing security in the Baltic, Black and Azov Seas.
Zelensky had earlier said he and Starmer would discuss the possibility of having Western troops stationed in Ukraine to monitor a ceasefire, a proposal initially proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron but over disagreements.
Trump vowed to end the war within 24 hours of taking office, but did not specify how. Negotiating pressure is expected to intensify when his government takes office next week.
Trump’s nominee for Secretary of State, Marco Rubiotold the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that the new administration would pursue "bold diplomacy" to end the war. "The Russian Federation has to make concessions and Ukraine has to make concessions," he said yesterday.
You can read more about Starmer's visit to Kyiv and what it says about Europe's views on Trump's Ukraine policy here.
Keir Starmer (center) is greeted by Ukrainian officials and British Ambassador to Ukraine Martin Harris (right) after arriving at a Kiev train station. Photograph: Carl Court/AFP/Getty Images
Here are some other recent developments:
Ukraine's military said on Thursday its forces had captured more than two dozen soldiers in Russia's western region. KurskRussian forces have been trying to oust Ukrainian forces for the past five months. "Ukrainian paratroopers, together with neighboring troops, captured 27 enemy servicemen in the Kursk region," a military statement said, adding that Russian troops had surrendered.
Ukraine's air force said it shot down 34 of 55 Russian drones launched in 11 regions of the country in a night attack, while another 18 failed to reach their targets.
Russia launched missiles and drones at Ukrainian energy facilities on Wednesday, a day after Kiev said it carried out the largest air strikes of the war on Russian army factories and energy centers hundreds of kilometers from the front line. The mayor of the southern city of Kherson said the attack caused power outages. After the attack, Zelensky called on the West to use some $250 billion in unallocated frozen Russian assets to buy Kiev weapons.
Poland told other EU members that Europe must "take responsibility" for its own security as Warsaw takes over the bloc's rotating presidency at a time of growing geopolitical uncertainty.