Sunak Promises Further Support for Ukraine During First Meeting With NATO Chief

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak greets NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at 10 Downing Street, London, ahead of their meeting on Nov. 9, 2022. PA

Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg has become the first international leader to visit Number 10 since Rishi Sunak became prime minister.

Ahead of the meeting on Wednesday, Sunak said, “NATO is the cornerstone of our security and the security of our allies.”

Stoltenberg also met with Foreign Secretary James Cleverly in London, with talks expected to focus on the Russia–Ukraine conflict and the continued adaptation of the alliance.

“As the war in Ukraine continues to rage, we must not take peace at home for granted,” said Sunak.

“I am determined the UK will be the bedrock of NATO for generations to come. But in order to face the challenging future we must evolve as an alliance to meet, and remain ahead of, the threat from our adversaries. We must also continue backing the Ukrainian people in their resistance to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s brutality,” he added.

Sunak became UK prime minister in October, the country’s third prime minister in just over three months.

Stoltenberg visited Ukrainian troops at Lydd army camp in southeastern town of Lydd, Kent, as the troops receive training from UK counterparts as part of Operation Interflex. NATO reported that Canadian and Lithuanian forces are also training troops there.

Operation Interflex is the operational code name for the British-led multinational military operation to train and support the armed forces of Ukraine.

Stoltenberg said the United Kingdom is a “lead nation” when it comes to supporting Ukraine.

“I’m very grateful to the UK because this is really important, it makes a difference every day on the battlefield,” he added.

Also visiting the Lydd army camp, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said that Russia has been an “active adversary” of the United Kingdom for years.

“Many will remember the Salisbury poisoning, where they deployed nerve agents,” he said, speaking directly to Ukrainian troops.

“Russia has been regularly behind cyber attacks in this country. Of course, Russia doesn’t like the fact the United Kingdom is standing up against it—we’re standing up for the values of freedom, democracy, and human rights, but that isn’t going to put us off,” added Wallace.

“We’re going to continue to support Ukraine, to defend its sovereign territory against an illegal invasion, and we’ll just carry on doing it. Britain stands for more than a small moment in time, Britain stands for those enduring human rights,” he added.

PA Media contributed to this report.