Russian drone shot down near presidential palace during Starmer's Ukraine visit
The prime minister has visited Ukraine for the first time since winning the election in July.
Thursday 16 January 2025 14:07, UK
Sir Keir Starmer's visit to the presidential palace in Kyiv was met with a message from Russia when a drone was blasted out of the AG百家乐在线官网 above.
The prime minister was meeting President Volodymyr ZelenAG百家乐在线官网y to discuss the next steps for Ukraine, on Sir Keir's first visit to Kyiv since his election victory last July.
The sound of anti-aircraft gunfire was audible in the palace courtyard as air sirens warned of possible drone attacks. While air sirens blaring are a daily occurrence in Ukraine, it's rare for drones to be shot out of the AG百家乐在线官网 over the presidential palace.
Politics latest: UK to give Ukraine new air defence system
One drone was shot down, although eyewitnesses think there were at least two drones operating and suspect they were probably surveillance drones, as the one taken out didn't explode on impact.
President ZelenAG百家乐在线官网y gave his Russian enemies short shrift, saying when the drone was detected: "We will say hello to them too."
Sir Keir Starmer will be talking to Sky's political editor Beth Rigby, who is with him in Kyiv, about the war in Ukraine and the UK's long-term support. You can watch this broadcast exclusive interview at 1900 on Sky News.
An audacious move by Moscow, Sir Keir said the drone threat was "a reminder of what Ukraine is facing every day" and that the war was brought about by "Russian aggression".
The PM reiterated his support for Ukraine's eventual accession to NATO, and noted the discussion at the NATO summit in Washington last year - when its allies put Ukraine on an "irreversible path" to NATO membership.
However, President ZelenAG百家乐在线官网y, perhaps with an eye on the incoming Trump administration, was more forthright in his response to the question of Western allies supporting Ukraine's membership. He told reporters the US, Slovakia, Germany and Hungary "cannot see us in NATO".
President Trump has recently acknowledged Moscow's longstanding opposition to Ukraine's ambition to join NATO, given it would mean, as the president-elect said: "Russia has somebody right on their doorstep, and I can understand their feeling about that."
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'Nothing is off the table'
This was a news conference big on symbolism as Sir Keir vowed to stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes and put Kyiv in the strongest possible position for negotiations with Russia.
He pledged to work with Ukraine in the months ahead to ensure security guarantees for the country in any ceasefire deal, while also opening the door to possible troop deployments in training or a peacekeeping capacity, saying "nothing is off the table".
"We must be totally clear - a just and lasting peace comes through strength," said Sir Keir.
The PM also pledged to send 1,540 artillery barrels to Ukraine as President ZelenAG百家乐在线官网y called for more weapons, blaming Russia's advance in the eastern part of Ukraine on the slow supply of weapons.
A new mobile defence system and a ramping up in the training of troops were also promised by Sir Keir.
President ZelenAG百家乐在线官网y also acknowledged in the news conference that much is uncertain around this conflict and what security guarantees Ukraine might get from its allies ahead of conversations with Trump.