Rishi Sunak makes surprise visit to Ukraine
The PM is meeting Volodymyr Zelensky
Rishi Sunak is making a surprise visit to Ukraine to meet Volodymyr Zelensky, as the UK announced it will provide ÂŁ2.5 billion in military aid to the country over the coming year.
It comes as the Ukrainian president presses allies in the West to provide the country with more support to fight back against Russian forces, amid fears that interest in the war is flagging among allies as the war drags on.
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.
Mr 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."
Mr Sunak made his first visit to Ukraine in November 2022, weeks after entering Number 10.
The UK has been among the most vocal backers of Ukraine, with Mr Zelensky visiting London early last year in a historic trip.
The Prime Minister and Mr Zelensky 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.
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