Rishi Sunak is making a surprise visit to Ukraine to meet Volodymyr Zelenskiy, as the UK announced it will provide £2.5 billion (€2.9 billion) in military aid to the country over the coming year.
It comes as the Ukrainian president presses allies in the West to provide the country with more support to fight back against Russian forces, amid fears that interest in the war is flagging among allies 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 battle against Vladimir Putin.
The British prime minister stressed the UK’s continued backing for Kyiv ahead of his meeting with president Zelenskiy, which comes hours after UK and US forces launched strikes against targets used by Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Mr Sunak said: “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.
“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 made his first visit to Ukraine in November 2022, weeks after entering Number 10.
The UK has been among the most vocal backers of Ukraine, with Mr Zelenskiy visiting London early last year in a historic trip.
The prime minister and Mr Zelenskiy will use the one-day visit to sign a new UK-Ukraine Agreement on Security Cooperation, after G7 countries agreed at last year’s Nato summit to sign bilateral security assurances with the country.
Number 10 said that the £2.5 billion in funding would cover long-range missiles, air defence, artillery ammunition and maritime security, with the support an increase of £200 million on the last two years.
Around £200 million will also be spent on a push to procure and produce thousands of military drones, which the UK government said was the largest delivery of drones to Ukraine from any nation.
Most are expected to be manufactured in the UK.
Mr Zelenskiy has said that Ukraine particularly needs air defence systems to fend off Russian aerial barrages. More than 500 drones and missiles were fired between December 29tth and January 2nd, according to officials in Kyiv.
The Ukrainian leader began the year with a visit to several Baltic states in a bid to drum up support.
Mr Sunak said that the UK recognises 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 prime minister will meet Ukrainian emergency workers during the visit, with Mr Sunak also expected to announce a further £18 million in aid.
Funding and resources will also be provided for English language training in the country, Number 10 said.
Shadow defence secretary John Healey gave Labour’s backing for the “vital support” for Ukraine.
“The UK is united in support of Ukraine and against Russian aggression.
“Labour fully backs this new military funding for Ukraine – and has been pushing ministers since the autumn to confirm 2024 military funding,” he said a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
