British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced during his visit to the Ukrainian capital on Friday the signing of a ten-year bilateral security agreement, which President Volodymyr Zelensky described as “unprecedented.”

Sunak, who wanted to send a “message” with this surprise visit, demanded the continuation of necessary Western aid to Kiev.

He stressed that any weakening of this support would not only “embolden” Russian President Vladimir Putin, but also “his allies in North Korea, Iran and elsewhere.”

He added, "If Putin wins in Ukraine, he will not stop there, and our opponents around the world will believe that we do not have the patience nor the resources necessary for long wars," stressing that Ukraine is "not alone" and will never be so.

Kiev is concerned about the reluctance of its European and American allies, due to internal political differences, to grant it more aid to confront the Russian invasion.

For his part, President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the “unprecedented security agreement” concluded with Britain.

The Ukrainian leader said, “This is not a simple declaration. It is a reality that will bear fruit thanks to our cooperation.”

The text comes in the wake of promises to conclude bilateral agreements made by the G7 countries at the NATO summit in Vilnius last year.

The United Kingdom is the first country to reach a final bilateral agreement with Ukraine, according to the British government.

Thousands of drones

During the visit, Rishi Sunak announced an increase in military aid and the delivery of thousands of drones.

He said, “We are one of the most important supporters of Ukraine, especially with regard to military aid.”

The value of British military aid for the year 2024/2025 will reach 2.5 billion pounds sterling, an increase of 200 million pounds sterling over the previous two years.

This brings total British aid to Ukraine to nearly 12 billion pounds (14 billion euros).

Sunak added that this support is in line with “the seriousness of the situation here” and “our determination” to support Ukraine, pointing out that this is his first foreign visit this year and the first by a foreign leader to Ukraine.

He promised, “Putin may think he can hold out longer than us, but he is wrong.”

His visit comes the day after the Ukrainian president warned that any “pause” in defending his country would only help Moscow rearm itself and allow it to “crush” Ukraine.

The new British support is directed at providing long-range missiles, air defense means, artillery ammunition, and maritime security means.

The British government explained that at least 200 million pounds sterling is allocated “to quickly supply and produce thousands of military drones,” especially “surveillance drones, long-range attack drones, and maritime drones.”

According to London, this will be “the largest drone delivery to Ukraine from any other country,” and most of these drones will be produced in the United Kingdom.

In a related development, the new French Foreign Minister Stephane Ségornet headed Friday to Kiev, where he will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, to show French support for Ukraine in the war against Russia.

Sources close to Sigournet said that the French Foreign Minister “is on his way to Kiev.”