Sawt Falasteen - Blasts in Kyiv as UK's Starmer inks 'landmark' 100-year accord

Loud blasts and air raid sirens rang out over the Ukrainian capital after Starmer's arrival as air defence systems in central Kyiv repelled a Russian drone attack, officials and AFP journalists reported.

In Starmer's first official visit to Kyiv since taking office last July, he pledged steadfast support for Ukraine in the face of the Russian invasion, and said any deal to end the fighting must "guarantee" Ukraine's security and independence.

The visit is the latest meeting that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is holding in a flurry of talks with his country's allies before Trump's return next week.

The incoming Republican has stoked fears in Kyiv and Europe that he will cut Washington's vital military aid or force Ukraine to accept a ceasefire on terms that reward Russia for its February 2022 invasion.

Starmer said he would "work with all of our allies" to ensure any settlement was "robust enough to guarantee Ukraine's security, guarantee any possible peace and deter any future aggression."

Under the 100-year agreement, London and Kyiv pledged to "deepen defence cooperation" and boost Ukraine's defence industry, recognising it as a "future NATO ally."

Speaking in Kyiv, Starmer hailed it as a "landmark agreement, the very first of its kind, a new partnership between the UK and Ukraine that reflects the huge affection that exists between our two nations."

Zelensky said ties with Britain were "closer than ever" and called the new agreement "truly comprehensive."

- 'Strongest possible position' -

Starmer had kicked off the visit by laying wreaths with Zelensky to commemorate killed Ukrainian soldiers and visiting a burns hospital treating wounded servicemen.

Ahead of their meeting, Zelensky said that he and Starmer would discuss the possibility of having Western troops stationed in Ukraine to oversee any ceasefire agreement, a divisive proposal initially put forward by French President Emmanuel Macron.

Starmer did not say whether Britain would be willing to deploy troops.

"It is really important that Ukraine is put in the strongest possible position," he said in response to a question about whether Britain would send a military contingent to the country.

The UK has been one of Ukraine's biggest military backers, pledging £12.8 billion ($16 billion) in military and civilian aid since Russia invaded three years ago.

London has committed £3 billion ($3.7 billion) of support every year "for as long as it takes", and is also providing a £2.2 billion loan backed by profits on frozen Russian assets.

The United States remains by far Ukraine's biggest financial backer -- but that looks set to change when Trump arrives.

His nominee for secretary of state, Marco Rubio, said Wednesday that the new administration would instead seek "bold diplomacy" to end the war.

"There will have to be concessions made by the Russian Federation but also by the Ukrainians," he said.

Trump has previously vowed to end the war within a day, with his aides speaking of leveraging US assistance to Ukraine to force it into territorial concessions.

Zelensky, who is pushing a "peace through strength" message, said Kyiv was "not considering security guarantees for Ukraine without the United States of America."

As part of Ukraine's whirlwind diplomatic programme, Italy defence minister Guido Crosetto announced on Thursday that he had also arrived in Kyiv on an official visit for a "series of institutional meetings".

In Poland a day earlier, Zelensky had called for the West to buy Kyiv weapons with some $250 billion of unallocated frozen Russian assets.

- 'Initiative' -

The visits come at a precarious moment for Ukraine on the battlefield.

Fighting has escalated before Trump's inauguration on Monday, as both sides seek to gain the upper hand in anticipation of potential negotiations aimed at settling the war launched by Russia in February 2022.

Zelensky conceded on Thursday that Russia had the "initiative" in the east of the country, but pointed to Ukraine's ongoing hold of Russian territory in its western Kursk region as a sign of his forces' potential.

At several key points in the northern Kharkiv and eastern Donetsk regions, Russian forces have exploited their advantages in manpower and resources to steadily advance.

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O.Farraj--SF-PST