Starmer becomes first UK PM to receive top French honour
Sir Keir Starmer has become the first serving UK Prime Minister to receive France's Legion d'honneur. The award was presented by President Emmanuel Macron in recognition of Starmer's contributions to European security and support for Ukraine.
Why it matters
This diplomatic gesture highlights the strengthening of bilateral relations between the UK and France amidst ongoing European security challenges.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Paulin Kola Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street Macron praised Starmer's contribution to Ukraine and the security of Europe Sir Keir Starmer has become the first serving UK prime minister to be awarded France's top honour, the Legion d'honneur.
He received the award at the end of a meeting of the so-called Coalition of the Willing - the group of countries Sir Keir and French President Emmanuel Macron helped set up to help Ukraine in the wake of Russia's full-scale invasion of 2022.
In his tribute, Macron praised Sir Keir's "decency" and expressed his gratitude for the "commitments for obviously your country, but the security of Europe, Ukraine, the bilateral relationship".
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky was among those to pay tribute to the outgoing prime minister who is due to leave his post next week.
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