Rishi Sunak visits Kyiv to announce £2.5 billion in military support for Ukraine
Surprise trip comes amid increased Russian bombardment and escalation of Middle East crisis

The UK prime minister has travelled to Ukraine with a promise of a new military aid package and humanitarian support for the battered nation.
During his surprise visit to Kyiv, Rishi Sunak will confirm that military funding to Ukraine will increase to £2.5 billion in the next financial year, Downing Street said, an increase of £200 million on the previous two years. Sunak and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will also sign a new bilateral agreement on security cooperation.
Ukraine has "fought with great courage to repel a brutal Russian invasion", said Sunak. "They are still fighting, unfaltering in their determination to defend their country and defend the principles of freedom and democracy." The UK "will also not falter", he added.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
At least £200 million of the package will be spent on "thousands of surveillance, long-range strike and sea drones", said the Financial Times, with most expected to be manufactured in Britain. It will be the biggest delivery of drones to Ukraine from any nation so far, said the paper.
The UK has been "one of Kyiv's staunchest supporters since Russia’s invasion", noted The Guardian, with Sunak making his first visit to Ukraine in November 2022, just weeks after entering No. 10.
The UK assistance comes as the US and the EU "struggle to secure support packages for Ukraine collectively worth hundreds of billions of dollars", said the FT. "Ukrainian soldiers on the frontline say they have already been forced to ration artillery shells, undercutting their ability to attack and defend against Russian forces," added the paper.
Zelenskyy has been pressing allies in the West for more support in the face of increased Russian aggression, said Sky News, amid fears that "interest in the war is flagging as the conflict drags on". The Middle East crisis and Israel's bombardment of Gaza have "turned global attention away" from Ukraine, said the broadcaster.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Harriet Marsden is a writer for The Week, mostly covering UK and global news and politics. Before joining the site, she was a freelance journalist for seven years, specialising in social affairs, gender equality and culture. She worked for The Guardian, The Times and The Independent, and regularly contributed articles to The Sunday Times, The Telegraph, The New Statesman, Tortoise Media and Metro, as well as appearing on BBC Radio London, Times Radio and “Woman’s Hour”. She has a master’s in international journalism from City University, London, and was awarded the "journalist-at-large" fellowship by the Local Trust charity in 2021.
-
Trump U-turns on weapons to Ukraine
Speed Read Unhappy with Putin, Trump decides the US will go back to arming Ukraine against Russia's attacks
-
Ukraine scrambles as Trump cuts weapons deliveries
Speed Read The halting of weapons shipments was driven by Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby, a Ukraine funding skeptic
-
IAEA: Iran could enrich uranium 'within months'
Speed Read The chief United Nations nuclear inspector, Rafael Grossi, says Iran could be enriching uranium again soon
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?
today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
Iran nukes program set back months, early intel suggests
Speed Read A Pentagon assessment says US bombing of Iranian nuclear sites only set the program back by months, not years. This contradicts President Donald Trump's claim.
-
Trump says Iran and Israel agreed to ceasefire
Speed Read This followed a night of Israeli airstrikes on Tehran and multiple waves of missiles fired by Iran
-
Trump gives himself 2 weeks for Iran decision
Speed Read Trump said he believes negotiations will occur in the near future
-
Israel strikes Iran, killing military and nuclear chiefs
Speed Read Israeli officials said the attack was a 'preemptive' strike on Iran's nuclear program