Ukraine and the United Kingdom agree on a 100-year partnership: details

Ukraine and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland have officially agreed to establish a 100-year partnership, which will serve as a framework for cooperation between the two countries in all key areas, from defence and security to culture, science and migration.

This agreement builds on existing documents between the countries: the Agreement on Political Cooperation, Free Trade and Strategic Partnership, signed on 8 October 2020, and the Agreement on Security Cooperation of 12 January 2024. These agreements form the foundation for a new, significantly broader format of relations.

The parties confirmed their shared commitment to the principles of the United Nations Charter, support for the reform of UN institutions, in particular the Security Council, and the preservation of the principles of the Helsinki Final Act and the Paris Charter as the foundations of global security.

Separately, the United Kingdom once again clearly stated its support for Ukraine's European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations, recognising that NATO membership is the best guarantee of its security, and confirmed its support for Ukraine's irreversible course towards the Alliance.

The agreement recognises that Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction are critical not only for the country but also for the stability of the region. Both sides see the potential for joint leadership in key sectors, based on shared values, inclusiveness and equal opportunities.

Significant attention is paid to reforms. Ukraine and the United Kingdom emphasise the importance of maintaining the pace of achieving the standards of the European Union, the International Monetary Fund and NATO, as well as implementing reforms that strengthen democracy, security and the economy.

In the social dimension, the parties place the rights of women, girls, people with disabilities and marginalised groups at the centre of their policies and support citizen mobility, people-to-people contacts and the development of partnerships between societies.

The agreement sets out Ukraine's commitment to continue strengthening its anti-corruption system — in both the public and private sectors — with the support of independent and adequately resourced institutions. It also reaffirms a shared commitment to human rights, the rule of law and the development of accountable democratic institutions.

The document also takes into account global challenges: military aggression, economic competition, climate threats and energy transition. A separate section is devoted to technological innovation — from healthcare and education to artificial intelligence, quantum computing and biotechnology — and joint counteraction to transnational threats, including organised crime, terrorism and illicit financing.

What the agreement provides for

• Defence and security: deepening military cooperation, developing defence industrial capabilities, transferring technology for joint production in line with NATO standards.

• Path to NATO: strengthening operational interoperability and Ukraine's role as a future ally of the Alliance.

• Maritime security: partnership to restore freedom of navigation and strengthen security in the Baltic, Black and Azov Seas.

• Economy and trade: improving the investment climate, cooperation in transport, infrastructure and energy, combating inequality and poverty.

• Energy and climate: developing clean energy and supporting the energy transition.

• Justice: cooperation in the legal sphere, sanctions policy and holding states that violate international law accountable.

• Information security: countering foreign information manipulation and interference.

• Science and innovation: joint response to global challenges and support for inclusive growth.

• Culture and society: cooperation in the fields of culture, education, health, social protection, cultural heritage preservation and the development of creative industries.

• Migration: managing migration processes, countering human trafficking and gradually facilitating safe travel between countries.

The agreement is concluded for a period of 100 years and enters into force after the completion of internal procedures in both countries. It may be amended by mutual agreement of the parties or terminated with six months' written notice.

The document was signed on 16 January 2025 in Kyiv. The agreement was signed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on behalf of Ukraine and Prime Minister Keir Starmer on behalf of the United Kingdom.

Ukraine, Great Britain, 100-year partnership, NATO, strategic cooperation, international cooperation