The Prime Minister of the UK, Rishi Sunak, is expected to call on international partners to help Ukraine degrade Russian forces beyond the front lines of the conflict in a virtual meeting with the Group of Seven (G7) today (Friday). This move follows Sunak’s recent meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in which the possibility of providing longer-range weapons to Ukraine was discussed.
The PM will appreciate the international community’s strength and resolve in supporting Ukraine, as demonstrated by the G7, and will make the case for the supply of sophisticated weapons to their armed forces. This move is intended to help protect critical civilian infrastructure and preserve the front-line defences. Additionally, the Prime Minister is expected to reiterate his offer of UK support to countries capable of providing jets to Ukraine to help in the immediate conflict.
The Prime Minister’s efforts to help Ukraine seize a window of opportunity to push back Russian forces and regain territory for the long term have led to this capability step change. This acceleration comes as Ukraine prepares to mark a year since Russia’s barbaric full-scale invasion.
In commemoration of this anniversary, the Prime Minister will join military personnel in Downing Street to pay tribute to the bravery and courage of all Ukrainians fighting against Russia. Along with his wife Akshata Murthy, he will also hang blue and yellow garlands on the door of number 10. The Prime Minister will also host members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and representatives from the 10 nations supporting the Government’s Interflex training programme, including trainers from New Zealand, Australia, The Netherlands, Sweden, Canada, Lithuania, Norway, Denmark, and Finland.
Later in the day, the Prime Minister will speak to G7 allies in the virtual meeting, expressing his pride in the united response from international partners and his admiration for Ukraine’s bravery and President Zelenskyy’s leadership. He will urge G7 allies to help Ukraine gain a decisive advantage on the battlefield and shift Putin’s mindset. Instead of an incremental approach, the Prime Minister will advocate for a faster approach to artillery, armour, and air defence.
The Foreign Secretary will also speak at the United Nations Security Council meeting in New York to call on countries to step up their support for Ukraine to help the country secure a lasting peace on their terms. He will determine whether Russia’s continued targeting of Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure and key agricultural sites has driven up global food prices and harmed the most vulnerable.
The UK’s continued support for Ukraine in this conflict is admirable and highlights the importance of international cooperation in promoting peace and security. As tensions continue to rise in the region, it is essential that leaders work together to find a diplomatic solution to this crisis.
Source: Gov[Dot]UK
