The move is part of the outgoing Prime Minister’s Brexit reset
Sir Keir Starmer travelled to Paris for a meeting of the ‘coalition of the willing’ (Image: Getty)
Sir Keir Starmer kicked off his final week as Prime Minister with a trip to Paris today. The outgoing premier joined allies of Ukraine including French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for a meeting of the “coalition of the willing” to discuss ongoing support for Kyiv as Russia’s brutal invasion continues.
He announced that Britain would sign up to the EU’s €60 billion defence loan scheme for Ukraine as part of his push for closer ties with Brussels. Under the arrangement, UK defence companies will be able to bid for procurement contracts funded by the loan in return for a financial contribution.
The “coalition of the willing” was set up by Sir Keir and Mr Macron to bring together countries willing to provide security support to Volodymyr Zelensky’s country if there is an end to the conflict, which is in its fifth year.
The Prime Minister’s support for Ukraine has been one of the main elements of his foreign policy during his time in office.
But he has been branded “never here Keir” by critics for the amount of time he has spent out of the country since winning power in July 2024.
Sir Keir is expected to join Bastille Day events in France today [TUES].
Meanwhile, Rachel Reeves is carrying out her final duties as Chancellor and is due to give her final Mansion House speech to the City today [TUES], where she will lay out plans to support small businesses.
It comes as Andy Burnham, the only candidate in Labour’s leadership race, is expected to officially succeed Sir Keir next Monday.