On Friday, UK’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will travel to Ukraine to meet with his counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskiy. The UK has announced that it will extend military assistance to Ukraine in the upcoming year.
Britain has been a strong ally for Kyiv in the face of Russia’s invasion. Sunak announced that in the upcoming fiscal year, they will increase their support to £2.5bn, a £200m increase from the previous two years.
Ukraine plans to use additional funding to purchase new military drones, such as surveillance, long-range strike, and sea drones. Most of these drones will be produced in Britain.
The recent visit by Sunak occurs during a tense time following air and missile attacks launched by the UK and US in areas of Yemen controlled by the Houthi, with the goal of stopping assaults on ships in the Red Sea.
Zelenskiy has urged Western allies to increase their assistance to Ukraine in countering Russian forces. Concerns have been raised that the ongoing war is losing attention and support.
The ongoing bombardment of Gaza by Israel has shifted global focus away from Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of the country, exacerbating the crisis in the Middle East. On Thursday night, the UK and US, along with allied countries Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands, launched attacks on at least 60 targets in 16 locations in Yemen.
Sunak announced his trip to Kyiv and praised Ukraine’s bravery in resisting a violent Russian attack for the past two years. He also acknowledged their ongoing determination to protect their nation and uphold the values of liberty and democracy.
I am currently present with a single message: the United Kingdom will not waver either. We will support Ukraine, during their most difficult moments and in the future when things improve.
In November 2022, Sunak visited Ukraine for the first time, just weeks after taking office as No 10.
James Heappey, the UK’s armed forces minister, referred to the military action in Yemen as a defensive measure on Friday. During an interview with Times Radio, he stated, “Our actions, along with those of the Americans last night, were taken in self-defence to protect our warships from potential attacks while carrying out their lawful and just duties.”
Sunak and Zelenskiy plan to sign an agreement during their one-day visit that will focus on security cooperation between the UK and Ukraine. This agreement is in accordance with the decision made by G7 countries at the previous year’s Nato summit to provide bilateral security guarantees to Ukraine.
The government of Downing Street announced that the budget of £2.5bn will be allocated for the purchase of long-range missiles, air defense systems, artillery ammunition, and maritime security measures.
The UK acknowledges that Ukraine’s security is crucial to our own. In addition, we are taking additional steps to support Ukraine, including providing more military aid, supplying advanced drones, and entering into a significant new security agreement to ensure long-term stability.
During the visit, the prime minister will have a meeting with emergency workers from Ukraine. Sunak is also anticipated to declare an additional £18m in aid.
According to No 10, funding and resources will be given for English-language training in the country.
Source: theguardian.com
