The UK is set to increase its military aid to Ukraine to £2.5billion amid its continuing war with Russia.
Rishi Sunak is making a surprise visit to Ukraine to meet with Volodymyr Zelensky and has vowed to continue supporting Kyiv in its war effort against Putin's aggression.
It comes as the Ukrainian president presses allies in the West to provide the country with more support to fight back, 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.
Rishi Sunak is meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky
PA
The Prime Minister stressed the UK’s continued backing for Kyiv ahead of his meeting with President Zelensky, which comes hours after UK and US forces launched strikes against targets used by Houthi rebels in Yemen.
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.”
The PM made his first visit to Ukraine in November 2022, just weeks after entering No10.
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The PM made his first visit to Ukraine in November 2022, just weeks after entering Number 10
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The UK has been among the most vocal backers of Ukraine, with Zelensky visiting London early last year in a historic trip.
The Prime Minister and his Ukrainian counterpart 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.
No10 said that the £2.5billion in funding would cover long-range missiles, air defence, artillery ammunition and maritime security, with the support an increase of £200million on the last two years.
Around £200million will also be spent on a push to procure and produce thousands of military drones, which the Government said was the largest delivery of drones to Ukraine from any nation.
Most are expected to be manufactured in the UK.
The Ukrainian President has said that his country particularly needs air defence systems to fend off Russian aerial barrages.
More than 500 drones and missiles were fired between December 29 and January 2, according to officials in Kyiv.
Zelensky began the year with a visit to several Baltic states in a bid to drum up support.
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 Sunak also expected to announce a further £18m in aid.
Funding and resources will also be provided for English language training in the country, No10 said.
