UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has arrived in Ukraine for an official visit.

Starmer, like all Western leaders visiting Ukraine since the onset of the Russian invasion in 2022, arrived in Kyiv by train. He met with President Volodymyr Zelensky. The President of Ukraine posted a video showing him and the British Prime Minister visiting the memorial for fallen defenders of Ukraine in Mykhailivska Square. The British Prime Minister also visited a military hospital. He noted that Britain intends to provide assistance to Ukraine to strengthen its position in potential negotiations.

During Starmer's visit to Kyiv, an air raid alert was declared in the city, accompanied by explosions. Presumably, the air defense system was repelling a drone attack. No casualties were reported, and the alert was lifted.

As previously reported by The Guardian, Starmer and Zelensky will discuss security guarantees that London might offer Kyiv, including the possibility of British troops participating in post-war peacekeeping forces.

"Putin's ambitions to sever Ukraine from its closest partners have suffered a massive strategic defeat. Instead, we have become closer than ever, and this partnership will elevate our friendship to a new level," Starmer said the day before.

Following the visit, Ukraine and the UK plan to sign a partnership agreement lasting 100 years to deepen existing military ties amid concerns that the US may begin to scale back its support with the arrival of Donald Trump, The Guardian notes.

According to the publication, Starmer intends to announce a £40 million aid package for Ukraine's economic recovery.

The UK has already provided nearly £13 billion in support to Ukraine, with £7.8 billion allocated for military assistance and the restoration of Ukrainian energy infrastructure.

In November, during the "Group of Twenty" summit in Brazil, Starmer announced that his government plans to increase aid to Ukraine.

Starmer's visit to Kyiv comes after he discussed Ukraine, including the deployment of peacekeeping forces, with French President Emmanuel Macron last week.

Yesterday, Bloomberg reported, citing sources, that the UK government has begun actively discussing the possibility of deploying peacekeeping forces in Ukraine. Agency sources noted that there are opponents of this idea within Starmer's cabinet due to security concerns. Numerous sources from The Telegraph in the British government indicated that Starmer has not yet made a final decision.

In December, the French President discussed the idea of a peacekeeping mission with the elected US President Donald Trump and President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris.

According to Zelensky's remarks after the meeting, Macron proposed placing foreign military contingents in Ukraine as a security guarantee until the country joins NATO. Zelensky did not specify which country might be involved, but Macron had previously not ruled out sending French troops to Ukraine.

Later, during his visit to Warsaw, the French President discussed the deployment of peacekeeping forces in Ukraine after the war with Polish President Andrzej Duda.

According to Rzeczpospolita, a potential 40,000-strong mission could consist of troops from various countries to monitor the ceasefire regime and possible violations.