British Prime Minister Keir Starmer reaffirmed UK’s “cast-iron support” for Ukraine on Thursday as he made his final visit to Kyiv before stepping down.Starmer is scheduled to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, days before Labour leader-designate Andy Burnham formally takes over as party leader and later succeeds him as prime minister.Ahead of the visit, Starmer praised the resilience of the Ukrainian people, saying their “fortitude” since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022 had “preserved the security of Europe,” BBC reported.Reflecting on his tenure, Starmer highlighted the UK’s military, diplomatic and economic support for Ukraine, including a landmark 100-year partnership aimed at strengthening defence and trade ties between the two countries.“When I became prime minister, I knew the UK must not simply stand with Ukraine in the moment, but help build the foundations of its long-term security and success,” Starmer said, adding that Britain had increased defence spending while “leading the way in the war fighting technologies of the future.”“And we have brought others with us on that journey. As we showed at the G7 and Nato summits, in recent weeks, the UK and its allies are absolutely united against Russian aggression,” he said.Starmer also announced that the first batch of 150 British-made artillery barrels would be delivered to Ukraine under a £61 million contract with BAE Systems, aimed at strengthening Kyiv’s defence capabilities.“I am so proud of what Britain has contributed. That work will continue, and our cast-iron support for Ukraine will always endure,” he added.The Ukraine visit marks one of Starmer’s final engagements as prime minister. During his last Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) in the House of Commons on Wednesday, he received rare cross-party praise from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch for his leadership on Ukraine and his close cooperation with Zelenskyy.Addressing MPs for the final time as prime minister, Starmer reflected on his time in office. “Every prime minister knows when they take up the torch that the day will come when they have to pass it on,” he said.He added that he was leaving Britain in “better shape than he found it,” citing stronger worker protections, higher defence spending and improved ties with European allies after Brexit.Starmer, who led Labour for six years and served as prime minister for two, will formally resign next week. Under Britain’s parliamentary system, a governing party can change its leader, and therefore the prime minister, without holding a general election. Andy Burnham is expected to be confirmed as Labour leader on Friday and formally take over as prime minister on Monday.