Rishi Sunak has pledged unwavering support for Ukraine, declaring that the nation "will never be alone" as the UK commits to providing £2.5 billion in military aid over the next year. This marks the UK's most substantial annual commitment since Russia's full invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The announcement was made by the Prime Minister during his meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv, where they also finalized a new agreement. Emphasizing the critical nature of the aid, Mr. Sunak stated that it is essential to prevent Vladimir Putin from further aggression, asserting that if he "wins in Ukraine, he will not stop there." The aid package, set for the upcoming financial year starting in April, will include long-range missiles, air defense systems, artillery shells, and a significant allocation of £200 million for drones. Officials highlighted that this military support represents the largest drone delivery to Ukraine by any country, with the majority being of UK origin. Notably, the Prime Minister's decision not to make a multi-year financial commitment has sparked debate, with some arguing that a longer-term pledge would send a stronger message of sustained UK support to Moscow. Instead, Mr. Sunak's approach involves a £200 million increase over the previous two years, surpassing the UK's annual military commitment to Ukraine, which stood at £2.3 billion. Downing Street underlined that this support package represents the initial phase of what it terms "an enduring hundred-year partnership between Ukraine and the UK." During his visit, the Prime Minister engaged with President Zelensky at the Presidential Palace and also met with emergency services and residents of Kyiv.
Having last visited Ukraine 15 months ago in November 2022, Mr. Sunak declared, "I am here today with one message: the UK will also not falter. We will stand with Ukraine in their darkest hours and in better times to come." He further emphasized the closeness of the UK-Ukraine partnership, stating, "The UK is already one of Ukraine's closest partners, because we recognize their security is our security." Highlighting the increased military aid and the signing of a historic new security agreement, Mr. Sunak expressed the UK's commitment to providing Ukraine with the necessary assurances for the long term. Acknowledging Ukraine's unwavering courage in the face of the brutal Russian invasion, he affirmed, "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 Prime Minister pointed to the UK's status as the first ally to sign a long-term security agreement with Ukraine, stating, "It sends a strong signal to Putin and others that we are here to stay. We are here to support Ukraine in the long term." President Zelensky praised Mr. Sunak's "personal leadership" and expressed confidence that the agreement would lay "the groundwork for our further work with our other partners." The UK-Ukraine agreement encompasses a range of bilateral assurances of military and economic support intended to deter Russian aggression prior to Ukraine's potential accession to NATO.
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