Wes Streeting vows ‘we’re with Ukraine until they win’ on his first visit to Kyiv as Andy Burnham’s defence secretary
Wes Streeting made his first visit to Kyiv since becoming defence secretary under Prime Minister Andy Burnham, using the trip to reaffirm the UK's backing for Ukraine in its war with Russia. He declared that Britain remains committed to standing by Ukraine "until they win", signalling continuity in UK military and political support despite the change in government leadership.
The article provided contains only the headline detail of the visit, with no further specifics on meetings held, aid pledges made, or Streeting's public remarks beyond the vow of continued support. It appears alongside unrelated Daily Mail news items, including coverage of Ed Miliband's visit to Washington to meet US counterpart Marco Rubio.
In short
- Streeting visits Kyiv as UK defence secretary for the first time.
- He pledges continued UK support for Ukraine "until they win".
- Visit comes under Andy Burnham's government.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Ukraine faces an illegal invasion by an authoritarian regime and has every right to defend its sovereignty. Supporters argue that Britain's resolute commitment upholds international law, strengthens NATO deterrence, and prevents the dangerous precedent where powerful nations can conquer their neighbours unchallenged. They contend that investing in Ukraine's victory now prevents far costlier future conflicts and demonstrates credible Western unity at a critical moment.
The case against
Critics question whether pledging support "until they win" creates an undefined, open-ended commitment without clear strategic parameters or realistic end-conditions. They raise legitimate concerns about escalation risks with a nuclear-armed adversary, the opportunity costs of vast defence spending amid domestic pressures, and whether this framing adequately acknowledges the genuine complexities of achieving complete Ukrainian victory. They advocate for supporting Ukraine's defence whilst remaining open to negotiated settlement and more carefully calibrated British commitments.
Explained simply
Wes Streeting is the UK's defence secretary, having taken on the role after Andy Burnham became prime minister. His trip to Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, is his first there in that job, and such visits by senior ministers are typically used to show solidarity with Ukraine's government as it continues to fight against Russia's invasion, which began in February 2022.
The war has drawn in Western allies like the UK, which has provided military equipment, funding and training to Ukrainian forces, alongside other partners such as the United States and European Union countries. Visits from UK ministers matter because they signal whether this support will continue at the same level, particularly when there has been a change of government or personnel, as there has been with Burnham replacing the previous prime minister.
Any statement from a new defence secretary about the UK's ongoing commitment is watched closely by Kyiv, Moscow and other allies, since shifts in tone or policy from major backers can affect the course of the conflict and the diplomatic pressure on both sides.