Prime Minister has said it is “deeply
humbling” to be in Kyiv and pledged that the UK will continue to
stand by Ukrainians in their fight, on his first visit to the
country today.
Meeting President Zelenskyy, he confirmed that the UK will
provide a major new package of air defence to help protect
Ukrainian civilians and critical national infrastructure from an
intense barrage of Russian strikes.
The £50 million package of defence aid comprises 125
anti-aircraft guns and technology to counter deadly
Iranian-supplied drones, including dozens of radars and
anti-drone electronic warfare capability. It follows more than
1,000 new anti-air missiles announced by the Defence Secretary
earlier this month.
In the last week, Ukrainian forces say Russia has rained down
more than 148 missile strikes on critical infrastructure, leaving
approximately 10 million people without power. The UK is also
bolstering our training offer to Ukrainian’s armed forces,
sending expert army medics and engineers to the region to offer
specialised support.
In Kyiv, the Prime Minister laid flowers at a memorial for the
war dead and lit a candle at a memorial for victims of the
Holodomor famine, before meeting first responders at a fire
station. The team of emergency responders described their
harrowing work rescuing survivors from the rubble and fighting
fires in the aftermath of Russian airstrikes and mortar attacks.
He also saw captured Iranian-made drones which have been used to
target and bomb civilians in recent months.
Prime Minister said:
“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.
“While Ukraine’s armed forces succeed in pushing back Russian
forces on the ground, civilians are being brutally bombarded from
the air. We are today providing new air defence, including
anti-aircraft guns, radar and anti-drone equipment, and stepping
up humanitarian support for the cold, hard winter ahead.
“It is deeply humbling to be in Kyiv today and to have the
opportunity to meet those who are doing so much, and paying so
high a price, to defend the principles of sovereignty and
democracy.”
Recognising that Ukrainians face a very difficult winter, with
widespread blackouts of destruction of homes, schools and
hospitals, the Prime Minister has also confirmed £12 million for
the World Food Programme’s response, as well as £4 million for
the International Organisation for Migration. The funding will
help provide generators, shelter, water repairs and mobile health
clinics. The UK is also sending tens of thousands of extreme cold
winter kits for Ukrainian troops.
Working with the Government of Ukraine, the UK has identified an
initial eight construction projects to be supported by UK Export
Finance, helping to repair Ukraine’s critical infrastructure and
lay the foundations for economic recovery. The projects include
six bridges and two housing projects, including a development in
Bucha for some 2,250 residents.
