The United Kingdom and Ukraine marked the first anniversary of their historic 100 Year Partnership with a series of new initiatives aimed at boosting security, prosperity, and long-term resilience in both countries. As part of the celebrations, the UK announced an additional £20 million to support Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, following intensifying Russian attacks on the country’s power sector. This funding will help repair, restore, protect, and generate energy to keep electricity and heating available for millions of families, children, and the elderly during harsh winter conditions.
The energy support builds on the UK’s ongoing commitment to Ukraine, bringing total assistance for the country’s energy sector to over £470 million since the full-scale invasion. The funds are intended to strengthen Ukraine’s energy security, resilience, and sustainability while supporting projects such as InnovateUkraine, which aims to address both national and global clean energy challenges.
Education and youth development are central to the partnership. The successful school twinning programme, initially launched with 100 schools in April 2025, will expand to include an additional 300 schools over the next three years, benefiting around 54,000 pupils. The programme fosters long-term connections between British and Ukrainian students, promoting learning, cultural exchange, and skills development for the next generation.
The partnership also encompasses economic and defence collaboration. Over the past year, the UK and Ukraine deepened defence cooperation through a £1.6 billion deal to supply advanced air defence missiles, which also created 200 jobs in Northern Ireland. Trade between the two nations grew by 20%, with ongoing efforts to remove barriers for British businesses in sectors such as pharmaceuticals and construction.
UK leaders emphasized the enduring nature of the partnership. Prime Minister Keir Starmer highlighted the UK’s steadfast support for Ukraine, affirming that the alliance will continue for the next 100 years, supporting security, opportunity, and hope amid ongoing conflict. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper emphasized the expansion of education initiatives and ongoing energy support, highlighting that these measures help keep Ukrainian homes warm and civilians safe while fostering long-term prosperity and resilience.
The 100 Year Partnership builds on nine strategic pillars, encompassing energy, education, defence, trade, innovation, and cultural exchange. Events held in Kyiv brought together over 300 stakeholders from both nations to showcase achievements and outline future plans, demonstrating a comprehensive approach to strengthening bilateral ties and supporting Ukraine in achieving security, recovery, and sustainable development.
