Starmer honoured with Légion d’honneur for Ukraine coalition leadership

French President Emmanuel Macron has awarded outgoing UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer the Légion d’honneur, making him the first British prime minister to receive the distinction. The honour recognises Starmer’s leadership in establishing the ‘coalition of the willing’ to support Ukraine and his contributions to European security. The presentation occurred during Bastille Day celebrations in Paris, attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Macron described Starmer’s approach as "reliable and friendly," contrasting it with previous testy relationships with Conservative leaders Theresa May, Boris Johnson, and Liz Truss. Starmer stated that support for Ukraine would continue under his successor, Andy Burnham. The coalition of the willing is a group of over 30 countries chaired by France and the UK, pledging financial and military support to Ukraine, sanctions on Russia, and a proposed multinational peacekeeping force.

The only other British prime minister to receive a similar award was Winston Churchill, who was granted the Grand-Croix of the Légion d’honneur in 1958 for his leadership during the Second World War. Other recipients of the higher-order Grand-Croix include former US President Dwight D Eisenhower, former West German President Willy Brandt, and Nelson Mandela.

At Starmer’s final coalition of the willing summit on Monday, Macron, Zelenskyy, and Merz paid tribute to his role on the world stage. Macron said Starmer had played a "historic role" in establishing the group, adding that they found in him a partner of decency and commitment to the security of Europe.

Successive British prime ministers, including Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and Rishi Sunak, have supported Ukraine since the Russian invasion in February 2022. The 2026 FIFA World Cup is currently underway, with concurrent matches involving the USA, Paraguay, France, Iraq, Argentina, and Austria.