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Kyiv, January 9, 2026 – President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated ahead of his meeting with UK Defence Secretary John Healey that the Paris Declaration, signed earlier this month, represents the first step toward obtaining real security guarantees from Europe.
“I believe the Paris Declaration is a step forward in securing genuine security guarantees from Europe,” Zelenskyy said.
The Ukrainian president also expressed gratitude to the United Kingdom for its ongoing support throughout the full-scale war.
“We are very grateful to your country for significant financial support, military aid packages, and real engagement in sanction policies against Russian aggression, which is extremely important for us,” he added, noting that Ukraine and the UK had opened a new chapter in their relations with the signing of the century-long defence partnership agreement.
Zelenskyy specifically thanked the UK government for strengthening Ukraine’s air defence capabilities.
“Your decision regarding air defence is extremely important, especially after the massive strike last night. I think you are aware of all the details of this brutal attack, which occurred against the backdrop of discussions on future peace negotiations, security guarantees, and meetings not only with European partners but also with the US delegation in Europe. Despite this, the Russian Federation continues numerous attacks on our civilian and energy infrastructure,” Zelenskyy noted.
The Paris Declaration, signed on January 6 following the Coalition of the Willing meeting in Paris, outlines plans for the deployment of multinational forces to support Ukraine. Leaders involved included Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
On January 8, the UK’s Deputy Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for Veterans Affairs, Al Karns, announced that Britain had delivered 13 Raven air defence units and two prototypes of the new Gravehawk system to Ukraine.
The meeting in Kyiv marks another step in the implementation of the UK–Ukraine defence partnership, reinforcing cooperation on air defence, military aid, and long-term security guarantees.
