Sir Keir Starmer Pledges Steady Support for Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky

Volodymyr Zelenskiy expressed gratitude to Keir Starmer for assuring continued support from Britain after their recent election. In a conversation with Starmer, it was conveyed that Labour's commitment towards Ukraine would remain firm in its fight against Russia. They also shared coordinated views ahead of the NATO summit planned next week.

Ukraine plans to discuss potential steps toward membership at this upcoming meeting. During an interview on Friday, Zelenskiy mentioned his efforts to double the country's air defense capabilities over recent times and noted initial positive outcomes. The latest addition to Ukraine’s defense includes a German-supplied Patriot system; alongside other systems in operation against threats from Russian forces.

Recent political maneuvers involving Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán have drawn criticism from both Ukraine and the EU, amidst his meetings with Vladimir Putin. In response to these developments, Josep Borrell, the EU's foreign policy chief, emphasized that Orbán's actions do not represent the Union’s stance or mandate.

Ukraine's eastern region faced severe attacks by Russian forces on Friday resulting in loss of lives and injuries. The governor reported that these incidents occurred at Selydove and Komar, highlighting the extent of damage sustained including private residences and infrastructure facilities.