Keir Starmer meets Ukraine's President Zelensky in Kyiv

1 year ago 27
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Watch: Sir Keir Starmer visits Ukraine

Sir Keir Starmer has flown to Ukraine to reaffirm Labour's "unwavering support" for the country in its war with Russia,

The Labour leader met President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv, ahead of next week's 24 February anniversary of the Russian invasion.

He also travelled to Bucha and Irpin to see the sites of alleged war crimes.

Mr Zelensky visited London and other European capitals last week to press for the supply of fighter jets.

Sir Keir told reporters it was "very important for me to be here in Ukraine… making clear that support for Ukraine in the United Kingdom is united".

"Should there be a change of government [in the UK], the position on Ukraine will be the same," he added,

Visiting Irpin and Bucha, outside Kyiv, he said he wanted to "acknowledge the courage of the Ukrainian people".

He said: "There has to be justice for this, has to be justice in The Hague, and proper reparation for the rebuilding of Ukraine."

During Prime Minister's Questions last week, the Labour leader argued that Russian state assets frozen in the UK should be used to fund the reconstruction of Ukraine.

He also pressed for evidence to be collected to ensure effective prosecutions for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak met President Zelensky in Kyiv in November.

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