2024-01-12 19:08:04
The British “premier” Rishi Sunak made a surprise visit to Kyiv this Friday to meet with the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, and announce a new military aid package to that country for 2.5 billion pounds (2.9 billion euros). The new British aid package will be provided throughout the year and is the UK’s largest economic commitment to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion began in February 2022.
While other conflicts, such as Gaza, have diverted global attention from Ukraine, London wants to combat fears that interest in Vladimir Putin’s invasion is waning among allies. Sunak noted that “for two years, Ukraine has fought with great courage to repel a brutal invasion from Russia.” “They continue to fight, without wavering in their determination to defend their country and defend the principles of freedom and democracy,” stressed the conservative leader. «I am here today with a message: the United Kingdom will not give up either. We will be with Ukraine, in its darkest hours and in the best times to come,” he noted.
Sunak’s visit follows Zelensky’s two-day tour of the Baltic states this week, where the Ukrainian leader argued that it would be difficult, if not “impossible, for Ukraine to survive” if aid packages totaling More than 90 billion pounds remain blocked in Brussels and Washington.
Sunak’s first visit to Ukraine was in November 2022, just a few weeks after he entered Downing Street as head of the Conservative Executive.
British officials said the military package for the next financial year starting in April represents the largest delivery of drones – most of which will be manufactured in Britain – to Ukraine by any country.
However, it is significant that the British Prime Minister has decided not to make a financial commitment lasting several years. Some ministers and senior military figures had argued privately that this would send a stronger signal to Moscow about Britain’s long-term support.
When asked by the BBC whether London should have announced a multi-year funding package, the prime minister noted that Britain was the first ally to sign a long-term security agreement with Ukraine. “This sends a strong signal to [el presidente ruso Vladimir] Putin and others that we are here to stay,” he said. “We are here to support Ukraine in the long term.”
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The agreement between the UK and Ukraine comprises a series of bilateral guarantees of military and economic support, designed to deter Russian aggression before Ukraine joins NATO.
Officials said Britain is the first G7 country to sign such a pact, which the seven major industrial nations promised to do at the Nato summit in Vilnius last year.
Britain’s commitment comes after months of pressure from British parliamentarians, who argued that the government should have given Ukraine greater clarity much earlier so it could develop its military planning.
It also comes as both the United States and the European Union struggle to agree on their own support packages, while Ukraine desperately needs more shells and missiles. Sunak said he was confident that allies “will come together to continue supporting Ukraine.”
In the United States, Republicans are blocking a $60bn (£47bn) support package for Ukraine in a bid to increase spending to tackle migration along the southern border.
For their part, European leaders failed to approve a multibillion-dollar financial aid package for Ukraine at the end of the year after Hungary was the only country to oppose it. However, they have agreed that financing talks would resume in early 2024.
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