After more than 1,000 days of war, Ukraine has just signed a 100-year agreement with the United Kingdom. Unique of its kind, this agreement was sealed during a trip by the British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, to kyiv on January 16, 2025.
A military, scientific and technological partnership with Ukraine
The main objective of this partnership is to modernize Ukraine’s military capabilities while strengthening its resilience.«Vladimir Putin’s ambition to distance Ukraine from its closest partners has been a monumental strategic failure. On the contrary, we are closer than ever, and this partnership will take that friendship to the next level», welcomed Keir Starmer, quoted in the official press release from the British government.
Cutting-edge technologies occupy a central place in this agreement. The United Kingdom and Ukraine will work together on the development of drones, cybersecurity and satellites, but also health and agro-technology. Ukrainian critical infrastructure, such as power plants and portswill also benefit from support from the United Kingdom to counter Russian attacks.
Uncertainty about Trump’s position
This agreement comes at a time of uncertainty over the United States’ involvement in Ukraine, with Donald Trump having promised to end the war, and who is due to be inaugurated this Monday, January 20, 2025 as the 47th President of the United States. .
In this context, the United Kingdom is strengthening its position as a strategic ally of Ukraine and calls on its European partners to follow its example. For the British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, this 100-year agreement aims to “ ensure that Ukraine is in the strongest possible position during the year 2025 ». For kyiv, this agreement also represents an economic opportunity, particularly in the fields of health and agro-technology. Volodymyr Zelensky and Keir Starmer also discussed the possibility of positioning European troops with a view to a possible ceasefire agreement with Russia.
-£12.8 billion since the start of the war
Since the start of the war in Ukraine (February 2022), the United Kingdom has asserted itself as a pillar of support for kyiv. In total, London released 12.8 billion pounds sterling, including 7.8 billion exclusively dedicated to military aid. An amount which covers the massive shipment of weapons, the delivery of modern equipment and the intensive training of Ukrainian soldiers.
London has already pledged an additional £3 billion to support military efforts until the end of the conflict. Beyond strategic issues, the United Kingdom has also funded projects to secure Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, helping to guarantee vital services to civilians, despite regular strikes targeting the electricity network.
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