PoliticsJuly 16, 2026 2:39 pm • 2 min readBritish Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Wall of Remembrance of the Fallen for Ukraine on Mykhailivs'ka Square on July 16, 2026, in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Stefan Rousseau-WPA Pool/Getty Images)President Volodymyr Zelensky has awarded outgoing U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer Ukraine's Order of Freedom, citing his "outstanding personal contribution" to bilateral ties and support for Ukraine, per a July 15 presidential decree.The news comes during Starmer's final visit to Kyiv as the British prime minister on July 16, aimed to demonstrate his country's "cast-iron support for Ukraine" amid Russian aggression.Starmer's office said his two-year leadership saw the U.K. play a "central role in driving forward international support for Ukraine and European security," including through direct military support and leadership of international initiatives like the Coalition of the Willing or the Ukraine Defense Contact Group.The U.K. has emerged as one of Kyiv's key allies after U.S. President Donald Trump's radical shifts in Washington's policy toward Russia and Ukraine.During the outgoing prime minister's tenure, London pledged 3 billion pounds ($4 billion) in annual military support for Ukraine and delivered over 250,000 drones, around 8,000 missiles, and over 350,000 artillery rounds, according to a press release from Starmer's office.Zelensky received Starmer in Kyiv, where the two paid tribute to fallen Ukrainian fighters at the Wall of Remembrance of the Fallen."I thank Keir and the United Kingdom for their unwavering respect for our warriors, for all those who made the ultimate sacrifice to defend Ukraine and all of Europe," Zelensky said on X.Starmer's farewell visit comes amid major political turmoil in Ukraine, with the government reshuffle ousting popular Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, a move that sparked protests in multiple cities.The British prime minister is expected to officially step down on July 20 and hand the leadership of the government to his successor, incoming Labor Party leader Andy Burnham.Starmer announced his resignation on June 22 following mounting pressure within his party. Burnham, a former mayor of Greater Manchester, has vowed that the U.K. support for Ukraine will continue after he takes office.