Keir Starmer arrives in Kyiv for farewell visit as British PM – Europe live

Key events

Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismisses Ukraine’s defence minister on eve of Starmer visit

and Artem Mazhulin
in Kyiv

Fedorov’s six months in office coincided with a dramatic improvement in Ukraine’s position on the battlefield. Kyiv has repeatedly hit Russian oil refineries with long-range drones, embarrassing Vladimir Putin and creating nationwide fuel shortages.

Mykhailo Fedorov said it had been a ‘great honour’ to serve the Ukrainian people. Photograph: Alina Smutko/Reuters

In his farewell message Fedorov, 35, listed his achievements. They included disabling Starlink for Russian troops and procuring more drones, used to destroy “enemy logistics” and to isolate occupied Crimea. He said he had “radically improved” the procurement system, saving the state budget “billions of dollars”.

On the day of his departure the minister revealed Ukraine’s military had successfully tested a ballistic missile. “We fundamentally revised ⁠the technical requirements ​and achieved maximum ​accuracy. ​We reduced ​the ‌cost ​by ​30%. Ukraine will enter a new league,” he said.

The sacking appeared likely to overshadow Keir Starmer’s visit to Kyiv. The British prime minister, who is due to leave office this week, arrived on Thursday to mark the country’s support for Ukraine during his premiership.

Morning opening: Zelenskyy's move to oust popular defence minister sparks protests as Starmer makes last visit

Volodymyr Zelenskyy is facing public outrage this morning over his decision to remove Ukraine’s popular defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, as he welcomes the UK’s departing prime minister Keir Starmer to Kyiv.

British prime minister Keir Starmer is welcomed by Ukrainian officials at the train station in Kyiv, as he visits Ukraine for the last time before leaving office. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/Reuters

The Ukrainian president moves to oust Fedorov despite pleas from foreign partners and civil society for him to keep his job, as part of wide-ranging government reshuffle which also saw Yulia Svyrydenko leave the post of the prime minister.

The timing makes it a bit awkward for Starmer who is finishing his legacy tour and is keen to highlight Britain’s support for Ukraine under his premiership.

But Zelenskyy will be keen to portray it as a clear sign of continuing international support, a day after he welcomed the EU’s Ursula von der Leyen and several national leaders from south-eastern Europe.

I will also keep an eye on Emmanuel Macron’s visit to France’s historic Fontainebleau forest after days of raging fires, and his later engagement with Germany’s Friedrich Merz.

We will no doubt have plenty of updates from Kyiv and beyond to cover for you.

It’s Thursday, 16 July 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.

Good morning.