British Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed 100-year cooperation agreement Cooperation with Ukraine provides support in various areas, including health care and military technology, while pledging to provide security at the end of the war in Russia.

During Starmer’s first visit to Kyiv as prime minister, the British leader told a news conference on Thursday that Britain would look at “practical ways to achieve a just and lasting peace… to guarantee your security, independence and choice” Right to “your own future”.

“We will work with you and all our allies to take steps that are strong enough to keep Ukraine safe,” Starmer said. “These conversations will continue for many months.”

As Starmer spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the presidential palace, loud explosions and air raid sirens were heard over Kiev, and air defense systems targeted Russian drone strikes.

The British leader said the Russian attack was a reminder of the situation on the ground.

“This is real for us,” he said, adding, “This is a threat that Ukraine faces every day with incredible resolve and determination.”

Zelensky acknowledged Russia’s “hello,” adding that Ukraine would send back its own “hello.”

Since Russia launched war against Ukraine in February 2022, the UK has provided 12.8 billion pounds ($15.6 billion) in financial aid to Kyiv, including 7.8 billion pounds ($9.5 billion) in military aid.

Data from the German think tank Kiel Institute shows that as of December 2024, the UK is the third largest aid provider to Ukraine, behind Germany, the second largest, and the United States, which is currently Ukraine’s largest supporter.

Here’s everything we know about Starmer’s pledge:

What’s in the 100-year contract?

According to Starmer’s office, the “historic partnership” between Ukraine and the UK will be “formalized through the landmark new 100-year partnership”.

The partnership agreement is expected to “strengthen” military cooperation through a “framework” to enhance security in the Baltic, Black and Azov Seas and “deter Russia’s continued aggression.” However, Starmer refused to take questions from the media about whether Britain would send troops to Ukraine.

Starmer also pledged £3 billion ($3.6 billion) in annual military aid “for as long as it is needed” and announced a £40 million ($48.7 million) economic recovery package to provide additional support for food verification and trade, but It is unclear when financial aid will be provided to Ukraine.

“This is not just a matter of the here and now, but an investment in the next century between our two countries, combining technological development, scientific advancement and cultural exchange, and taking advantage of the amazing innovation that Ukraine has shown in recent years, passing on from generation to generation. “It’s coming,” Starmer said on Thursday.

The 100-year partnership will be submitted to the UK Parliament in the coming weeks, which must approve the agreement.

Benjamin Martial, a senior lecturer in politics and international relations at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, told Al Jazeera that the deal signed by Starmer was “very significant” given the time frame involved.

“The UK has many bilateral agreements with many different countries but very few that are as long-lasting as this. This is obviously intended to send a very strong signal. I think it is intended to send a very strong message because we are in a fairly weak position,” Mathil said. He added that with President-elect Donald Trump about to enter the White House, there are questions about whether he will continue to have the support of the United States. The Ukrainian issue is a concern for the whole of Europe.

He added that the chances of the deal passing parliament were “very high” as support for Ukraine was also favored by the former Conservative government.

It’s “a continuation of Conservative policy. It’s doing a lot of things that the Conservatives want,” he said.

Why is it significant that Donald Trump is elected President of the United States?

With just days left until Trump is inaugurated in Washington, concerns are growing about whether support for Ukraine will continue as Trump promised to end the war “within days.”

On Wednesday, Trump’s pick for secretary of state, Marco Rubio, also said the new administration would pursue “bold diplomacy” to end the Russia-Ukraine war.

“The Russian Federation must make concessions and Ukraine must make concessions,” he told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Martial said Trump was the “elephant in the room” when it came to the UK’s partnership deal because of his previous comments.

“He’s completely unpredictable… All of this is happening now because of Trump, so I think, while it’s hard to understand what he’s going to do, it’s going to be a real game changer,” he said.

What does Zelensky have to say about the agreement?

In a speech late on Thursday, Ukraine’s president praised the deal, saying “relations between Ukraine and the UK are now closer than ever”.

“The Centenary Partnership Agreement with the UK can definitely be replicated in other countries to further develop our partnership,” he wrote on Telegram.

He said joining the agreement would help various sectors of society, including education and technology.

He added that there was a “confidential component” to the agreement, but did not elaborate.

Can the UK deploy troops to Ukraine?

Ahead of a news conference announcing the deal on Thursday, Zelensky told reporters he would discuss the possibility of sending Western troops to Ukraine to monitor a ceasefire with Starmer.

When Starmer was asked if he would commit to the idea of ​​a peacekeeping force, the Prime Minister simply replied that it was “very important that Ukraine is in the strongest position possible”.

However, Starmer later told Sky News that he had been discussing the idea with “many allies, including of course (French) President Emmanuel Macron”, who first raised the idea of ​​Western troops in Ukraine last year.

“We have always been one of the leading countries in Ukraine’s defense. So you can read about that. But we will play our part to the fullest. But I don’t want to get ahead of myself because this has to be long-lasting,” he said.

Will the agreement spur similar actions by Ukraine’s other allies?

“I think it will have a motivating effect and I think that’s probably what the UK is trying to do as well,” Martial said.

He said the UK was the first country to “take responsibility” and pledged to provide Western-made main battle tanks to Kiev. Unnamed sources in the UK told the BBC that the UK sent 14 Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine in 2023. .

“So it’s not just a signal to the European partners, it’s a signal to Kyiv, ‘We’re here for you’. It’s a signal to the European partners – ‘We can do more’ and to follow the UK’s line, And to send a signal to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin that ‘we are in this long war,'” he added.