The Labor leader approached Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s government this summer about a visit as opposition leader, with the Labor party writing a letter seen by the Guardian. He confirms Starmer’s support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia and suggests that he travel to Kyiv and hold talks with Zelensky. The proposed trip follows an earlier visit by Starmer to the Polish border and the visit of British troops to Estonia to confirm Labour’s “unwavering” commitment to Nato. The letter outlines Starmer’s previous meetings with prominent international figures. Ukrainian government sources say a date for Starmer’s trip has yet to be agreed, despite the lack of high-profile foreign visitors in August. They expressed some reservations that they did not want to compete with the Conservative party after receiving strong support from Boris Johnson and his potential successor, Liz Truss. However, it is understood the principle of the trip has been agreed and organizational planning is underway, with Starmer looking likely to undertake the trip later this year. Johnson is a hugely popular figure in Ukraine after the UK handed over anti-tank weapons ahead of Vladimir Putin’s invasion. He traveled to Kyiv for the third time on Wednesday for Ukraine’s independence day, having visited for the first time in April shortly after Russian troops abandoned their bid to take the capital. He returned in June for another surprise visit. Putin is to blame for Britain being hit with high energy bills while the Ukrainian is “paying with his blood”, Johnson said on his final visit to Kyiv as prime minister, urging the international community to “stay the course” in its support. Ukraine. He also told Zelensky that the country “can and will win the war.” Comparing the cost of Russia’s war, he said: “If we’re paying our energy bills for Vladimir Putin’s shit, the people of Ukraine are paying with their blood.” Starmer would not be the first national opposition leader to visit Kyiv if the trip goes ahead. Friedrich Merz, the head of Germany’s largest opposition party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), traveled to the capital in May and was received by Zelensky. Last month Zelensky called out Germany’s Social Democrat president, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, accusing his party of being soft on the Kremlin. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited in May, along with French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi. Labor declined to comment on the proposed trip. The journey from London to Kyiv is not simple. Starmer would likely fly to eastern Poland, cross the border and travel by train from the western city of Lviv to the capital. Johnson followed the same route, using a special carriage reserved for VIP guests. Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you to the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Johnson has emerged as a strong supporter of Zelensky during his tenure, often calling the Ukrainian leader. Downing Street’s military support for Ukraine predates the invasion, with £2.8 billion in military aid now pledged. Ukrainian troops have been invited to the UK for training. Starmer supported the government’s stance on Ukraine, including providing weapons and military training to the country’s troops. In May, he said: “We support the provision of more military equipment to Ukraine … for all those who are suffering in Ukraine, they need to see the political parties in the UK standing together to support Ukraine.” He highlighted Labour’s long-standing support for Nato, which is poised to expand significantly following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with Finland and Sweden poised to join.
