Keir Starmer and Rupa Huq Presented with Vyshyvankas
Ukrainian visitors gift embroidered shirt in gratitude for support
(From left to right) Halyna Shunevych, Sir Keir Starmer, Rupa Huq, Ela Czuruk. Picture: Lauren Hurley / 10 Downing Street
July 10, 2026
Rupa Huq MP and Prime Minister Keir Starmer have been praised for their ongoing support for Ukraine after welcoming two Ukrainian visitors to Parliament last week, including one who had travelled from Canada especially for the occasion. The meeting, held in the House of Commons on 1 July, saw the pair presented with traditional embroidered shirts — vyshyvankas — as a gesture of gratitude from the Ukrainian people.
Dr Huq, who represents Ealing Central and Acton, said her constituency has “a larger than average number” of Ukrainians and that Sir Keir has long been admired among the community. “At the start of the conflict, he came and prayed amongst them at the church in Newton Avenue, W3,” she said. “They are always asking when he’s coming back, so I took one of them to him armed with a gift!”
The shirts were made by Ukrainian designer Halyna Shunevych, whose cultural diplomacy project Vyshyvanka for the President honours world leaders who have shown solidarity with Ukraine. Each shirt is hand‑embroidered in traditional patterns unique to different regions of the country, with every stitch symbolising ancestral memory and resilience. Previous recipients include President Joe Biden, President Emmanuel Macron, Pope Francis, and former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Shunevych said meeting the Prime Minister was “a profound honour” and described the presentation as “a meaningful moment that highlighted how art and heritage can build bridges even in the most challenging times.” She added that her project aims to remind world leaders that “their support truly matters” and to inspire continued solidarity with Ukraine.
Ela Czuruk, Group Lead Volunteer of 1st Plast London — the Ukrainian Scouting Organisation in Great Britain — also attended the meeting and expressed gratitude for the UK’s “steadfast support” throughout Starmer’s two years at No.10. “The Prime Minister reassured us that the UK’s support for Ukraine will only continue to grow and strengthen,” she said, noting the significance of his words amid renewed attacks on Kyiv.
L-R: Ela Czuruk, Rupa Huq, Halyna Shunevych
Dr Huq reflected on the occasion with mixed emotions, saying: “We are sad to see Keir go, but he leaves a great legacy on the international stage, including his leadership on Ukraine. He even joked while receiving his shirt that he may be in need of a new job!”
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