Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has promised that the UK will continue to support Ukraine in its resistance against the Russian invasion.
Cleverly met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a visit to Kyiv, just days after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak travelled to the Ukrainian capital and announced a £50 million ($60 million) package of defensive military support.
Following the meeting, the foreign secretary wrote on Twitter that the UK is supporting Ukrainian “with action—not just words.”
“I made you that promise today. The UK intends to keep it,” Cleverly said to Zelenskyy.
Earlier, following a meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, he wrote on Twitter: “Words are not enough. Words won’t keep the lights on this winter. Words won’t defend against Russian missiles. The UK isn’t just talking about Ukraine, we’re providing concrete support for the defence of Ukraine.”
Kuleba said he was grateful for Cleverly’s “brave visit” and the UK’s “steadfast support” during the “difficult times.”
“Our shared goal is Ukraine’s victory which will restore security and stability in Europe and beyond,” he wrote on Twitter.
‘Hands-on Support’
The Russian military has been pounding Ukraine’s power grid and other critical infrastructure with missile strikes, causing blackouts and leaving millions without heat, power, or water as temperatures plummet.During his visit, the foreign secretary announced a further £3 million ($3.6 million) for the rebuilding of local infrastructure, including schools and shelters, as well as additional funding to support survivors of sexual assault.
He also said the UK would send Ukraine an additional 35 emergency vehicles, including 24 ambulances and 6 armoured vehicles.
Cleverly said: “As winter sets in, Russia is continuing to try and break Ukrainian resolve through its brutal attacks on civilians, hospitals, and energy infrastructure. Russia will fail.
“The UK stands shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine. I have today announced a package of hands-on support for our Ukrainian friends in their fight, from ambulances to crucial support for survivors of the sexual violence carried out by the Russian military.
“I’ve seen here first-hand how the UK’s efforts are helping brave citizens to resist and rebuild. Our support will continue for as long as it takes for this remarkable country to recover.”
Meanwhile, the UK is committing £5 million ($6 million) to a Ukraine-led initiative, delivered through the U.N. World Food Programme, to ship grain to countries most at risk of famine, including Yemen and Sudan.
UK Environment Secretary Therese Coffey said: “I am pleased the UK government can support President Zelenskyy’s work to help Ukraine’s grain reach some of the poorest and most vulnerable nations in the world.
“Global food security is in all our interests—and helping Ukraine’s farmers and agricultural sector to continue producing and exporting food in these most difficult of circumstances is vital for that security.”
Sunak Proud of UK Support
Cleverly’s visit came less than a week after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak made his first visit to Kyiv since becoming leader of the UK.During the visit on Nov. 19, Sunak announced a fresh package of defence aid for Ukraine, which was comprised of 125 anti-aircraft guns and technology to counter Iranian-supplied drones, including dozens of radars and anti-drone electronic warfare capability.
The UK government said it will send expert army medics and engineers to regions where critical infrastructure were hit by Russian missiles to offer specialised support.
Sunak also confirmed further aid packages, including tens of thousands of winter kits for Ukrainian troops, £12 million ($14 million) for the World Food Programme’s response and £4 million ($4.8 million) for the International Organisation for Migration to help provide generators, shelter, water repairs, and mobile health clinics.
Sunak laid flowers at a memorial for the war dead, lit a candle at a memorial for victims of the Holodomor famine, met first responders at a fire station, and was shown captured Iranian-made drones which had been used to target and bomb civilians in recent months, Downing Street said.
The prime minister said it was “deeply humbling” to meet those who are defending “the principles of sovereignty and democracy.”
“I am proud of how the UK stood with Ukraine from the very beginning. And I am here today to say the UK and our allies will continue to stand with Ukraine, as it fights to end this barbarous war and deliver a just peace,” Sunak said.
Sunak’s vocal support for Kyiv sees him follow in the footsteps of his predecessors, Boris Johnson and Liz Truss.
According to the UK’s Ministry of Defence, the UK has provided over £2.3 billion ($2.7 billion) worth of military aid, including hundreds of armoured vehicles, thousands of anti-tank weapons, and Multiple-Launch Rocket Systems.
