Rishi Sunak has visited Ukraine for the primary time since turning into prime minister, assembly with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy within the capital metropolis, Kyiv.
The two world leaders mentioned Ukraine’s army advances and reconstruction plans, and the British PM pledged a £50 million bundle to bolster Ukrainian air defence.
The bundle includes 125 anti-aircraft weapons and know-how to counter Iranian-supplied drones, together with dozens of radars meant to spice up anti-drone digital warfare functionality.
The UK will even improve coaching for Ukrainian’s armed forces, sending skilled military medics and engineers to the area to supply specialised assist.
During his go to, Mr Sunak additionally laid flowers at a memorial for the conflict useless, lit a candle at a memorial for victims of the Holodomor famine, and met Ukrainian first responders together with emergency personnel at a fireplace station.
A No 10 spokesperson confirmed the prime minister’s journey, saying: “The prime minister is in Ukraine today for his first visit to Kyiv to meet President Zelenskyy and confirm continued UK support.”
Mr Sunak tweeted: “Britain knows what it means to fight for freedom. We are with you all the way.”
President Zelenskyy shared a brief video on his official Telegram social media feed exhibiting the UK PM getting out of a automotive and strolling with him alongside a pink carpet into the Mariinskyia Palace.
The two leaders seem to make a remark in regards to the chilly climate as they shake palms, with small flakes of snow falling throughout.
Wearing a flag pin exhibiting the British and Ukrainian flags side-by-side, Mr Sunak is proven in a one-to-one assembly with Mr Zelenskyy, in addition to a bigger roundtable model assembly.
A message from the Ukrainian chief accompanying the video mentioned: “Since the first days of the war, Ukraine and the UK have been the strongest of allies.
“During right this moment’s assembly, we mentioned crucial points each for our international locations and for world safety.
“Together we are stronger and we will achieve the desired results.”
Mr Zelenskyy additionally tweeted his due to Mr Sunak, writing: “With friends like you by our side, we are confident in our victory. Both of our nations know what it means to stand up for freedom.”
Following his go to, Mr Sunak mentioned it was “deeply humbling” to be in Kyiv, occurring: “I am proud of how the UK stood with Ukraine from the very beginning. And I am here today to say the UK and our allies will continue to stand with Ukraine, as it fights to end this barbarous war and deliver a just peace.
“While Ukraine’s armed forces reach pushing again Russian forces on the bottom, civilians are being brutally bombarded from the air. We are right this moment offering new air defence, together with anti-aircraft weapons, radar and anti-drone gear, and stepping up humanitarian assist for the chilly, arduous winter forward.
“It is deeply humbling to be in Kyiv today and to have the opportunity to meet those who are doing so much, and paying so high a price.”
Click to subscribe to Ukraine War Diaries wherever you get your podcasts
Mr Sunak follows within the footsteps of former prime ministers Boris Johnson and Liz Truss, pledging the UK’s ongoing assist for Ukraine amid the Russian invasion.
The prime minister additionally used his look on the G20 this week to hitch with allies and different Western leaders to sentence Vladimir Putin’s invasion.
The go to comes after a missile hit a Polish village near the Ukrainian border, killing two individuals, and initially sparking issues Russia had struck a NATO member state.
Tensions have since been eased by the seemingly attribution of the hit to Ukrainian defence forces.
In the final week, Ukrainian forces say Russia has rained down greater than 148 missile strikes on crucial infrastructure, leaving roughly 10 million individuals with out energy.
Source: information.sky.com”