Outgoing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his departure on Monday amid plunging approval ratings, but there were warm words from European leaders who had generally found him easier to work with than his recent predecessors.

Starmer, the first non-Conservative prime minister since Brexit, rejected suggestions Britain could rejoin the EU, but pushed to improve relations after that trauma. He also kept up Britain’s role in regional support for Ukraine, alongside fellow “E3” leaders Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz.

Praise From Brussels

“It can take many leaders years to grow into the statesman you became in just two years,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on X. “European and Ukrainian security is stronger because of you. Thank you, dear Keir.”

A Popularity Crisis At Home

Starmer came to office in 2024, sweeping aside an unpopular government amid a slumping economy and a nation divided by Brexit. But like other European leaders, he struggled to win over voters drawn to anti-establishment parties promising bold change.

Away from home, his perceived lack of charisma seemed to matter less than domestically, where he was often accused of lacking conviction. “I want to acknowledge the significant role Keir played in resetting the Irish-British relationship as well as relations between the UK and the European Union,” Irish PM Micheál Martin said.

Tributes From Ukraine And Germany

Starmer’s support for Ukraine continued the line set by predecessors like Boris Johnson after Russia’s 2022 assault. Zelenskiy thanked Starmer “for always being in touch, always engaged, and always striving to do what is needed,” calling their talks “filled with real substance.” “Keir, you are always a welcome guest in Ukraine,” he wrote on X.

A German government spokesperson called Starmer “a reliable and close partner,” though there was no immediate personal statement from Merz, who faces his own record-low ratings.

A Colder Farewell From Trump And Moscow

Across the Atlantic, the farewell was less warm. Trump offered a dismissive send-off, announcing Starmer’s departure a day early and saying he had “failed badly” on immigration and energy. In Russia, Putin’s envoy Kirill Dmitriev claimed some credit for the resignation, writing on X: “We did this jointly… by exposing Starmer’s warmongering and consistently wrong policies.” A spokesperson later said the comment was made personally, referring to himself and other social media critics.

(with input from Reuters)