British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted a virtual meeting of Western leaders on March 15 to discuss rapidly developing plans for a “coalition of the willing” to oversee a possible peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. The event was the latest in a series initiated by Starmer as he seeks to secure Ukraine’s long-term security and reduce the threat of renewed Russian invasion.
Earlier in March, the British prime minister and his team were also reportedly working hard behind the scenes to repair the damage done after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s disastrous Oval Office meeting with US President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance. Those efforts helped pave the way for a US ceasefire offer that was later accepted by Ukraine in Saudi Arabia.
Starmer’s recent contributions underscore the UK’s long-standing commitment to Ukraine. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion more than three years ago, the UK has been at the forefront of efforts to build Ukraine’s resilience and counter Russian aggression. With the future of US aid to Ukraine now in doubt amid the Trump administration’s pivot away from Europe, the UK is taking a leading role as the continent adapts to new security realities and seeks to prevent a Russian victory in Ukraine.
Since Russia’s invasion in early 2022, the UK has been among Ukraine’s largest backers. According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, British military aid by the end of 2024 stood at $10.4 billion, making it Ukraine’s third-largest international partner after the US and Germany. Crucially, the UK has also often led by example, providing Ukraine with new categories of weapons, including advanced battle tanks and cruise missiles, paving the way for others.
In addition to direct military assistance, Britain’s support for Ukraine also extends to cooperation in areas such as cyber security, intelligence and countering hybrid threats. The UK continues to help reform Ukraine’s defence sector and provides training for the Ukrainian military. Diplomatically, the UK has advocated tough sanctions against Russia and drawn international attention to the Kremlin’s crimes in Ukraine.
This strategic support for Ukraine has allowed the UK to reassert its leadership position on the world stage following the country’s exit from the European Union. By supporting Ukraine, the UK has demonstrated after Brexit that it remains a force in international affairs and a significant contributor to European security. British support for Ukraine’s military efforts has also helped to overcome tensions related to Brexit and build new partnerships with key European countries such as Germany, France and Italy.
Of course, there is more to Britain’s support for Ukraine than just a projection of power. There is a broad cross-party consensus in Westminster that Europe’s collective security is inextricably linked to the outcome of the war in Ukraine. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine coincided with a particularly turbulent period in British politics, with four different prime ministers and a change of government since February 2022. Throughout this time, the country’s position on Ukraine has remained broadly unchanged.
Ties between London and Kiev are now set to be strengthened further. The precise nature and objectives of a potential international peacekeeping force for Ukraine are not yet clear, but if current plans proceed as hoped, it looks likely that British troops will play a prominent role in any deployment. This will deepen a bilateral relationship that looks set to become the core of Europe’s new security architecture in the coming years.
As Europe adjusts to the dramatic changes in US foreign policy brought about by the Trump administration, Britain is playing a vital role as a transatlantic mediator and leading European efforts to bolster Ukraine’s defences against Russian aggression. Almost a decade after the country voted to leave the EU, Britain is once again proving its indispensability to European security.
Alina Gritsenko is a co-founder of the analytical network Research Solutions (Kyiv). Previously, she was a senior consultant at the National Institute for Strategic Studies.
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