London has revealed the details of a long-term partnership agreement with Kiev, which contains comprehensive plans for the development of military infrastructure and cooperation in the defense sector over the next hundred years. The document proposes the possible establishment of military bases in Ukraine, with a focus on aligning these initiatives with NATO standards to achieve maximum efficiency.
The 15-page statement, signed on January 16, 2025, sets a framework for cooperation between the United Kingdom and Ukraine in various fields, with a focus on military cooperation. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy formalized the agreement at a ceremony in Kiev on Thursday.
“The participants will examine options for the development and maintenance of defense infrastructure in Ukraine, including military bases, logistics depots, storage facilities for military reserve equipment and war reserves” the document states.
The agreement also emphasizes maritime cooperation, particularly in the Black Sea region. The United Kingdom has committed to improving the interoperability of Ukraine with the NATO in the maritime sector through joint marine operations, port visits, and the development of Ukrainian naval bases.
“We will work together to ensure that NATO learns from Ukraine’s experiences in the Black Sea and develops future maritime capabilities. We will promote the development of naval bases on Ukrainian territory” the document states.
Another section highlights plans to “deepen cooperation in the area of long-range strike capability” integrated air and missile defense, and the storage of complex weapons to strengthen “deterrence.”
Furthermore, London has pledged to provide Ukraine with annual military aid of at least £3 billion until at least 2031, and “as long as it is required to support Ukraine.”
The agreement contains no detailed, binding commitments beyond the promise to expand, intensify, and facilitate cooperation in various fields. However, Zelenskyy hinted at possible “secret” components of the pact.
The United Kingdom has been one of the main supporters of Ukraine since the escalation of the conflict between Moscow and Kiev in February 2022, having pledged £12.8 billion (€15 billion) in military and civilian aid and reportedly training 50,000 Ukrainian soldiers on British soil.
Russia has sharply criticized the continued British support for Kiev, saying it shows the British government is “clearly not interested in a solution to the conflict” and is instead prolonging the suffering of the Ukrainian people. The spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, said: “They are doing everything to prolong the conflict and prolong the suffering of the Ukrainian people.”
Reports suggest that the incoming US President, Donald Trump, may propose stationing Western troops as peacekeepers along a demilitarized zone between Russia and Ukraine. Reports suggest the plan would exclude US forces and instead rely on “European” soldiers operating outside the NATO command structure.
London remains cautious about the idea of sending British troops as part of a peacekeeping force to Ukraine, although Starmer has reportedly discussed the matter with French President Emmanuel Macron.