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Departing UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has vowed the UK will continue to support Ukraine, as Andy Burnham prepares to take office. ITV News Correspondent John Ray reports<\/p>\n
Sir Keir Starmer<\/a> has said that “the UK’s support for Ukraine <\/a>will not waver” on his final visit to the country as prime minister.<\/p>\n Starmer reassured Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy<\/a>, that he has confidence the UK support will remain as his successor, Andy Burnham, prepares to move into No 10.<\/p>\n He added: \u201cIt is really significant that it is now, in the fifth year of this conflict, the Ukrainian flag still flies above Downing Street. It still flies across churches and town halls across the country, and individual gardens. Because the British people understand what is being fought for here \u2013 freedom and democracy, values that we will never take for granted. We know that this fight is our fight.\u201d<\/p>\n Starmer also said that the war “has not just changed Ukraine but has changed us all” and said it has been a “real privilege” to stand alongside Zelenskyy and he talked of his pride in the partnership built between the two countries, as well as the Coalition of the Willing, set out alongside France last year.<\/p>\n He said the UK’s support for Ukraine would “never change” and went on to promise a new \u20ac300 million (\u00a3254 million) package of support alongside Sweden, providing 16 new advanced aircraft to defend Ukraine’s skies.<\/p>\n The 16 Gripen E fighter jets will be delivered by 2029 and the funding also includes pilot and engineer training as well as other support to get the aircraft to the frontline of the war.<\/p>\n A Gripen jet, the model that will be sent to Ukraine as part of the new funding package. Credit: PA<\/p>\n Gripen jets are capable of air-to-air combat and can strike ground targets, helping Ukraine to build a modern air force against Russia.<\/p>\n Starmer said: “Today\u2019s investment will help put advanced Gripen fighter jets in Ukrainian skies, strengthening their ability to defend their country while supporting thousands of skilled jobs here at home.\u201cFrom British engineers to Ukrainian pilots, this is our partnership in action, building Ukraine\u2019s long-term security, strengthening Britain\u2019s defence industry, and showing Putin that we are not going anywhere”.<\/p>\n