Starmer welcomed Zelensky to Downing Street on Tuesday – the latest stop on the Ukrainian leader’s tour of European capital cities.
Zelensky visited Paris last week and travels to Madrid on Wednesday. The visits come as the Middle East conflict overshadows Ukraine’s four-year fight against Russia’s full-scale invasion.
“I think it’s really important that we are clear that the focus must remain on Ukraine,” said Starmer.
As part of Zelensky’s visit to London, the Ukrainian leader addressed MPs in Parliament.
“The regimes in Russia and Iran are brothers in hatred and that is why they are brothers in weapons,” Zelensky said. “And we want regimes built on hatred, to never, never win in anything. And we want no such regime to threaten Europe or our partners.”
Among those in the audience in a packed Westminster committee room were Sir Keir, Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Defence Secretary John Healey and leaders of opposition parties.