Starmer becomes first UK PM to receive top French honour
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has become the first serving British leader 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 gesture underscores the strengthening of bilateral ties between the UK and France amidst ongoing geopolitical challenges in Europe.
Image source, Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street Image caption, 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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