The Kyiv Independent
News, analyses, investigations, opinions, podcasts and more. On-the-ground reporting from Ukraine
Zelensky congratulates Starmer on UK election victory.
![Zelensky congratulates Starmer on UK election victory.](https://uazmi.com/news/cover/image/f41fd00c1d56dbdf8c86713927b3e418.jpg)
President Volodymyr Zelensky extended his congratulations to Keir Starmer, who became the next prime minister of the U.K. on July 5 after a resounding victory by the Labour party.
Both Starmer and outgoing Prime Minister Rishi Sunak have consistently supported the U.K.'s commitment to Ukraine. As a result, the election was not expected to substantially alter the U.K.'s policy toward Ukraine.
"Ukraine and the U.K. have been and will continue to be reliable allies through thick and thin," Zelensky wrote on X.
"We will continue to defend and advance our common values of life, freedom, and a rules-based international order."
Beyond the prime minister, the election will likely result in other significant changes in the U.K.'s leadership. Defense Secretary Grant Shapps lost his seat in parliament, as did former Prime Minister Liz Truss.
The Russia-friendly lawmaker George Galloway, who recently said that he trusts Russian President Vladimir Putin more than Starmer, was also defeated.
Galloway previously worked as a presenter on the Russian state-run media outlet RT, and gained notoriety for saying that the Bucha massacre, in which hundreds of Ukrainian civilians were murdered by Russian troops, was "not a war crime," instead implying that it was staged.
At the same time, far-right populist Nigel Farage, who has also made a number of controversial statements about Russia and Ukraine, was elected.
In June, Farage claimed that Russia was provoked into launching the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the expansion of NATO and the EU.
After the comments generated widespread pushback, Farage doubled down on the sentiment in an article in the Telegraph, in which he denied being "an apologist or supporter of Putin."
But he also said the West has "played into (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's hands, giving him the excuse to do what he wanted to do anyway."
Farage claimed that he had seen the war coming "a decade ago."
In a separate interview in June, Farage said that he "disliked (Putin) as a person," but added that he "admired him as a political operator because he's managed to take control of running Russia."
Ukraine's Svitolina advances to Wimbledon quarterfinals.
Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina reached Wimbledon quarterfinals on July 8, defeating Wang Xinyu of China 6-2, 6-1. "Today is a very difficult day for the Ukrainian people It was not easy to focus on the match today. So, I am happy I could ...
Indian PM Modi arrives in Moscow in first visit to Russia since beginning of full-scale war.
"Landed in Moscow. Looking forward to further deepening the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between our nations, especially in futuristic areas of cooperation," Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on X.
Ukraine calls UN Security meeting after mass Russian attack across country.
"We must hold Russia accountable for terror and (Vladimir) Putin for the orders to launch strikes," Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Zelensky repudiates Orban, saying 'only strong alliances' can be mediators between Russia, Ukraine.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban visited Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on July 5, just days after meeting President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv.
Ukraine intercepted 30 of 38 Russian missiles during mass attack, Air Force says.
In total, Russian forces launched one Kinzhal ballistc missile, four Iskander-M ballistic missile, one 3M22 Zirkon missile, 13 Kh-101 cruise missiles, 14 Kalibr cruise missiles, two Kh-22 cruise missiles, and three Kh-59/69 guided aerial missiles,...
Who should lead the Conservative Party?
Conservatives are waiting to find out which individuals will put themselves up for the upcoming leadership contest. No date has been announced, but senior Tories have suggested that any decision should be made after the party conference season. Th...
China develops insect cyborgs
Tiny mechanisms are being added to insects in an effort to influence their movements. One application of the technology could be to locate injured people in urban disasters. #technology #insects #china SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel for more vid...
Meet the designer turning classic Venetian glass into modern art.
Venetian glass is perhaps the most famous glass in the world. The island of Murano became the glass-making center of Europe in the 15th and 16th centuries, creating art that was so popular it was sought out by royals well into the 19th century. To...
Biden's post-debate fallout
ABC News White House Correspondent MaryAlice Parks and Contributing Political Correspondent Rachael Bade breakdown President Biden's post-debate fallout. WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW: Subscribe to ABC News on YouTube: ABC News Digital is your daily so...
What does America mean to some of the country's immigrants?.
The U.S. has been described as a nation of immigrants. Early Today's Fredlyn Pierre Louis listened to some of their stories and found out what America means to them. » Subscribe to NBC News: » Watch more NBC video: NBC News Digital is a collection...
'SITTING TARGETS': Chicago resident sounds off on taxpayer-funded migrant care.
Chicago resident and Trump surrogate P-Rae Easley discusses sanctuary cities cutting back migrant shelter programs, the impact to residents and sounds off on spending towards the migrant crisis. #foxnews Subscribe to Fox News! Watch more Fox News ...