Sir Keir Starmer is in Kyiv to sign a new 100-year agreement pledging the UK’s “steadfast support” to Ukraine. Russian drones attacked the city centre during the PM’s visit, which Volodymyr Zelenskyy threatened a response to.
Thursday 16 January 2025 13:55, UK
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Kemi Badenoch has opened her first speech of 2025 by repeating the mantra we often heard during the Tory leadership contest: That for too long, politicians have “not been telling the truth”.
She says that includes the Conservatives during their 14 years in office, and now Labour too.
She says the country is getting poorer and Britain has “lost its way”.
“From now on we will be telling the British public the truth.”
She goes onto say it’s “hard not to feel sorry for Labour”, saying they fell into the trap of her previous government in deciding raising taxes was a solution.
But she stresses she’s “not that sorry” pointing to the recent row over grooming gangs.
She says Sir Keir Starmer is “what is wrong with politics”, calling his style “legalism not leadership.”
“Labour are having even more problems than we did because they created policies without a plan,” she says.
“It’s like their old cliché: Failing to plan is planning to fail.”
She adds the difference between her and Sir Keir is that he doesn’t acknowledge his mistakes, whereas she does.
She lists some of her party’s mistakes while in government, including that they left the EU without a post-Brexit plan for growth.
Sir Keir Starmer will be talking to our political editor Beth Rigby from Kyiv about the war in Ukraine and the UK’s long-term support.
It comes just days before Donald Trump returns to the White House, potentially marking a turning point in the conflict.
We’ll bring you Beth’s interview with the prime minister at 7pm.
We’re getting more from the news conference given by Sir Keir Starmer and Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The pair touched on Ukraine’s future as a potential member of NATO.
Russia has repeatedly stated its opposition to this happening.
Sir Keir reiterated his support for Ukraine’s accession to NATO – and noted the discussions last year that were had at the NATO summit in Washington, when allies put Kyiv on an “irreversible path” to NATO membership.
However, President Zelensky – perhaps with an eye on the incoming Trump administration – was more forthright in his response to the question of Western allies’ support for Ukraine’s membership.
He told reporters the US, Slovakia, Germany, and Hungary “cannot see us in NATO”.
President Zelenskyy also said he had also discussed the deployment of foreign troops with France, the UK, Poland and Baltic nations.
This follows reports UK and France were in talks to send peacekeepers to Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy has threatened a response to a Russian drone attack on Kyiv earlier.
The strikes on the capital came as the president held talks with the UK’s prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer.
At least one drone flew close to the presidential palace where the two leaders held talks.
Speaking about the attack at a news conference with the PM, Mr Zelenskyy said: “We will say hello to them too.”
‘A pretty big deal’
Our security and defence editor Deborah Haynes said while air raid sirens are routine in Kyiv, it’s “highly unusual for a Russian drone to be shot out of the sky above the presidential palace”.
“It’s a pretty big deal – especially happening while Starmer is meeting Zelenskyy,” Deborah added.
‘Peace comes through strength’
Sir Keir said the attacks are “a reminder” of the “unrelenting aggression” Ukraine faces, and the “daily resolve” its people show.
“The route to a just and lasting peace comes through strength,” he added.
“We will work with allies to reject this aggression, uphold international law and strengthen your hand now.”
Over at the Mariinskyi Palace in Kyiv, Sir Keir Starmer and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have been holding a news conference.
In it, the prime minister confirmed that the UK will deliver a new mobile air defence system to Ukraine – as part of a 100-year “friendship” deal.
He says this new system would be “developed to meet Ukraine’s needs”.
UK ‘will play full part’ to help Ukraine
Sir Keir says the UK will work with Ukraine on steps that would be robust enough to guarantee their security, in the wake of the war with Russia.
“Those conversations will continue for months ahead,” he says.
The prime minister pledged to “play our full part” when it comes to guaranteeing Ukraine’s security.
Sir Keir says: “We have already committed £3bn for military aid this year, and we’re going further to support the front line, providing a £2.2m loan which will be paid back.
“Not by Ukraine, but from the interest on frozen Russian assets.”
‘Nothing is off the table’
He goes on to announce 150 artillery barrels will be provided to Ukraine, made by Sheffield Forgemasters. These will arrive in a few weeks.
“We will keep going further to train Ukrainian troops,” he says.
Sir Keir says that when it comes to training Ukraine’s defenders, “nothing is off the table”.
“The British people believe in this cause.”
Sir Keir Starmer and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have officially signed a 100-year “friendship” deal.
This will guarantee Britain’s support for Kyiv in the long-run.
After signing the agreement, Mr Zelenskyy said: “Today is a truly historic day, our relationship is closer than ever.”
Sir Keir previously said the 100-year agreement underpinned Britain’s “steadfast support” for Ukraine as he reiterated European unity in the face of Russian aggression.
The treaty and political declaration will be laid in parliament in the coming weeks.
The prime minister met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Thursday after travelling on an overnight train from the Polish border to the capital.
The latest round of the COVID inquiry focuses on vaccines and anti-viral treatment across the UK.
Today we’re hearing evidence from former health secretary Matt Hancock.
Watch live in the stream below:
Could we soon have our first by-election of 2025?
Reform UK are pushing for one in Runcorn and Helsby after the constituency’s MP, Mike Amesbury, pleaded guilty to assault.
He had been suspended by Labour following the incident in October, when he was seen on CCTV punching a man to the ground in Cheshire.
Since then he has sat as an independent MP.
Reform UK chairman Zia Yusuf said voters in his constituency “deserve far better than this”.
“We call on Mike Amesbury to do the honourable thing and resign immediately so a by-election can be held,” he added.
The PM’s official spokesperson declined to comment on whether the MP should resign.
Border Force officers seized more than 105 tonnes of weighed drugs in the year to March 2024 – the most on record.
They were spread across 40,639 total seizures – also a record – and included almost 27 tonnes of powder cocaine, which again was the highest ever and a 75% increase on the previous year.
The figures have been revealed in a new Home Office report on illegal drugs seized by police and Border Force in England and Wales.
There were 217,644 seizures in total – a 13% increase.
Police seizures accounted for 81% of those, but rose by a relatively modest 6%.
Border Force saw a much bigger spike of 57%.
Other new records include the highest quantity of herbal cannabis (85 tonnes) and ketamine (2,252 seizures) ever recovered.
The Politics Hub has been partly masquerading as our Ukraine live blog this morning, with the prime minister in Kyiv.
But there’s also been plenty of political news back home – here are the main things you need to know:
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is making a statement in the Commons about grooming gangs from around 1.30pm.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch is also giving a speech this afternoon about how she’ll restore the public’s trust in her party.
We’ll bring you any noteworthy updates from those.
Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge is live from 7pm – we’ll bring you the full line-up for the show later.
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