The UK is set to welcome President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine
and a Ministerial delegation to London this week (7 and 8
October).
As part of the visit, Foreign Secretary will meet Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba to
reaffirm the UK’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and
territorial integrity in the face of malign behaviour from
Russia. will also announce £5m of humanitarian aid to support
communities in eastern Ukraine who have been affected by the
conflict and the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. UK aid will
enable the provision of food, water, medical supplies and
psychosocial support for survivors of sexual and gender-based
violence.
President Zelenskyy and the First Lady of Ukraine will have an
audience with Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of
Cambridge at Buckingham Palace, further strengthening the
historic ties between the UK and Ukraine.
Also during the visit, UK Prime Minister and President Zelenskyy will sign the Political, Free
Trade and Strategic Partnership Agreement to strengthen UK
cooperation in political, security and foreign matters with
Ukraine, while also securing continued preferential trade for
businesses and consumers.
Foreign Secretary said:
“Ukraine’s stability is vital for Europe’s
security. Providing £5m in humanitarian aid and signing the
Political, Free Trade and Strategic Partnership Agreement is a
clear demonstration of the UK’s commitment to Ukraine’s
prosperity and security.”
The UK supports President Zelenskyy’s efforts to end
the conflict in eastern Ukraine and is focussing diplomatic
efforts on assisting the Ukrainian government with peace-building
and recovery, alongside our longstanding support for economic and
governance reform and anti-corruption initiatives.
The Foreign Secretary will highlight the importance of stability
in Ukraine to security in Europe. Responding to the priorities of
the Ukrainian government, the UK has this year increased
investments into stabilisation, making it a priority alongside
our security support.
This year, the UK has allocated over £40m in funding – including
£5m of humanitarian aid - for projects to support practical steps
towards peace, counter gender-based violence, and promote
economic and governance reform. This includes empowering women to
take part in shaping their society.
The additional humanitarian funding for communities in eastern
Ukraine will also help provide repair of water infrastructure,
health facilities and housing, alongside support to
micro-businesses and entrepreneurship to enable these communities
to become self-reliant and aid the longer-term economic recovery
of eastern Ukraine.
The UK is also stepping up its support by £600,000 for the vital
work of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in
Europe’s Special Monitoring Mission, who report on the conflict
in eastern Ukraine, including ceasefire violations and the impact
on civilians.
