United Kingdom: Prime Minister, Mr. Rishi Sunak visits Ukraine for a meeting with President Mr. Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The nation would provide further military aid to Ukraine over the coming year.
The UK has been one of the staunchest supporters of Ukraine since the Russian invasion. Mr. Sunak stated that Britain would boost its support in the next financial year to £2.5 billion, an increase of £200 million on the previous two years.
The extra funding would aid Ukraine to pay for new military drones. Different kinds of drones like the ones for surveillance, long-range strikes and sea drones are available. Most of them are expected to be manufactured in Britain.
The Prime Minister’s visit comes at a tense moment after the UK and US launched air and missile strikes in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. The combined strike is aimed at halting attacks on ships in the Red Sea.
Mr. Zelenskyy has pressed allies in the West to provide Ukraine with more support against Russian forces. The fear of losing interest in the war rises as the war drags on.
The crisis in the Middle East, as Israel continues to bombard Gaza has also turned global attention away from the Russian Invasion of the country.
Announcing his visit to Kyiv, Mr. Sunak had said that, “For two years, Ukraine has fought with great courage to repel a brutal Russian invasion. They are still fighting, unfaltering in their determination to defend their country and defend the principles of freedom and democracy.”
The British Prime Minister added that, “I am here today with one message: the UK will also not falter. We will stand with Ukraine in their darkest hours and in the better times to come.”
Mr. Sunak had made his first visit to Ukraine in November 2022, weeks after entering No 10.
Mr. Zelenskyy and Mr. Sunak will use the single-day visit to sign a UK-Ukraine agreement on security cooperation. The agreement comes after the G7 had agreed on the Nato Summit last year to sign bilateral security assurances with the country.
Downing Street explained that the £2.5 billion in funding would cover long-range missiles, air defence, artillery ammunition and maritime security.
Mr. Sunak commented that the UK recognised that Ukrainian, “security is our security.” “Today we are going further – increasing our military aid, delivering thousands of cutting-edge drones, and signing a historic new security agreement to provide Ukraine with the assurances it needs for the long term,” the UK PM added.
According to No 10, the Prime Minister will meet Ukrainian emergency workers during the visit. An announcement of further aid worth £18 million is expected. The funding and resources would be provided for English-language training in the country.
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