Outgoing UK PM Starmer visits Ukraine

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Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer

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Outgoing UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer travels to Ukraine on Thursday for his final visit to the war-torn country before leaving office next week.

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Starmer, set to depart Downing Street on Monday, was to hold talks with President Volodymyr Zelensky in the capital Kyiv, the British government said in a statement.

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The premier was expected to tell Zelensky that the UK’s commitment to backing Ukraine will continue after he is replaced by Andy Burnham.

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“Our cast-iron support for Ukraine will always endure,” Starmer said in comments released by his office.

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Burnham will become leader of the ruling Labour party on Friday before taking over as prime minister on Monday after meeting King Charles III.

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He will be the UK’s fifth leader since Russia invaded its neighbour in February 2022.

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Starmer announced his resignation on June 22 after losing the confidence of Labour lawmakers following several domestic policy U-turns that impacted his popularity.

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He is held in high regard by many foreign leaders though, including for his work on Ukraine and commitment to NATO.

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Starmer, along with French President Emmanuel Macron, has helped lead efforts to establish a peacekeeping force aimed at deterring Russia in the event of a peace deal.

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On Monday, Britain joined the European Union’s 90-billion-euro ($103 billion) support loan for Ukraine.

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AFP

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