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.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
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.
-
'A stark choice'
Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
The Vietnamese migrants crossing the Channel
The Explainer 2024 has seen a surge in the numbers of Vietnamese migrants making the illegal passage into the UK
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
How to make the most of your leftover pumpkins
The Week Recommends As the Halloween fun wraps up, snap up pumpkins still on sale and don't leave your jack-o-lanterns to rot
By Tess Foley-Cox Published
-
Has the Taliban banned women from speaking?
Today's Big Question 'Rambling' message about 'bizarre' restriction joins series of recent decrees that amount to silencing of Afghanistan's women
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Cuba's energy crisis
The Explainer Already beset by a host of issues, the island nation is struggling with nationwide blackouts
By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK Published
-
Putin's fixation with shamans
Under the Radar Secretive Russian leader, said to be fascinated with occult and pagan rituals, allegedly asked for blessing over nuclear weapons
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Chimpanzees are dying of human diseases
Under the radar Great apes are vulnerable to human pathogens thanks to genetic similarity, increased contact and no immunity
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies hang over Sydney's Mardi Gras
The Explainer Police officer, the former partner of TV presenter victim, charged with two counts of murder after turning himself in
By Austin Chen, The Week UK Published
-
Quiz of The Week: 24 February - 1 March
Puzzles and Quizzes Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will mounting discontent affect Iran election?
Today's Big Question Low turnout is expected in poll seen as crucial test for Tehran's leadership
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Sweden clears final NATO hurdle with Hungary vote
Speed Read Hungary's parliament overwhelmingly approved Sweden's accession to NATO
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published