Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presents Keir Starmer with Order of Freedom

A meaningful gesture before the PM steps down for good

The award was given to the outgoing PM in honour of his steadfast and continued support of Ukraine in the face of the Russian invasion.

Starmer has been one of Ukraine's strongest allies, along with France's Emmanuel Macron and Germany's Friedrich Merz who spearheaded the Coalition of the Willing.

The Coalition of the Willing. Image: Getty.

It comes as Starmer visited Kyiv for one last time before Andy Burnham replaces him next week as UK prime minister.

On the visit Starmer announced £250m (€300m) would be given to Ukraine to help deliver 16 Gripen jets in cooperation with Sweden.

Zelenskyy took to X to thank Starmer for his friendship and solidarity with Ukraine.

He wrote: "Today we are especially grateful to Keir Starmer – the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, with whom we have been working very extensively and seriously right now, during this time of full-scale war.

"The United Kingdom has always been and remains with Ukraine, and we value this immensely.

Starmer is given the Ukrainian Order of Freedom. Credit: Getty.

"Thank you, Keir, thank you to your team and all the British people. I awarded Keir the Order of Freedom for his personal leadership and support of our people. With Prime Minister Starmer, we have had dozens of meetings, conversations, and decisions.

"Today marks Keir's fourth visit to Ukraine as Prime Minister, and in total there have been 46 of our various official meetings and conversations alone.

"That’s at least two conversations or meetings per month. I am grateful for all the assistance provided to Ukraine during this time. Today we discussed with Keir key issues regarding the front lines, our long-range operations, and mid-range strikes.

"Ukraine has achieved significant successes in this regard, and we will continue to pursue every avenue of such pressure on Russia to end the war and achieve a just peace. We will certainly continue to coordinate with our British friends going forward."

An official press release from the UK government said that the pair "would continue to stay in close contact and looked forward to seeing each other again."