The Foreign Secretary has travelled to Ukraine as part of ongoing
UK efforts to ensure the country has the crucial practical
support it needs through the winter.
The visit comes as Russia tries to exploit the harsh winter in
Ukraine by continuing its brutal attacks on the country’s
civilian and energy infrastructure to exacerbate the ongoing
humanitarian crisis.
During a visit to Kyiv on Saturday, the Prime Minister announced
a £50 million package of defensive military support, and the
Foreign Secretary will use this visit to ensure that the UK is
following through on other key commitments, including further
support to help Ukraine through the winter, and to rebuild and
recover in the longer term.
That includes providing an additional 35 emergency vehicles,
including 24 ambulances and 6 armoured vehicles, which are to
arrive in Ukraine from the UK, to support civilians caught in
conflict. He will also announce that the UK will step up its
support on demining, increasing its support from £2m this year.
While in Ukraine, the Foreign Secretary will meet President
Zelenskyy, as well as Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, and other
key members of the Ukrainian government, including ministers
involved in reconstruction efforts. He is also meeting members of
civil society who are fighting to protect human rights, and the
UK’s embassy staff in Ukraine.
Foreign Secretary 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.
During the visit the Foreign Secretary has seen the scale of
catastrophe wrought indiscriminately by Putin, and how the UK –
with its international partners – is providing concrete support
for recovery.
Through this fund the UK is supporting the Government of Ukraine,
local officials and Ukrainian communities to rebuild vital local
infrastructure. This is enabling people to return to normal life
by clearing debris from Russian attacks, making areas safe and
secure, and rebuilding schools and shelters in towns and
villages. This new funding will be targeted to areas recently
liberated from Russian control in southern Ukraine, including
Kherson Oblast.
He is also visiting a school, which will re-open for 350 students
in the next fortnight after being rebuilt by volunteers,
including parents and teachers, with UK support. The Foreign
Secretary will also visit an emergency housing complex run by the
International Organisation for Migration and supported jointly by
the UK, Ukraine and international partners.
Ahead of the UK hosted PSVI (Preventing Sexual Violence in
Conflict Initiative) conference next week, the Foreign Secretary
will announce a further £3.45 million for the UN Population Fund
to boost survivor centred gender-based violence and sexual and
reproductive health services, and ensure continued access to
expert support for survivors of sexual assault.
The consequences of Putin’s war in Ukraine are also being felt
across the world, and impacting some of the world’s most
vulnerable countries. Today the Foreign Secretary, alongside the
Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey also announced that the UK
is committing £5 million to a Ukrainian led initiative, delivered
through the UN World Food Programme, to supply grain to countries
most at risk of famine, including Yemen and Sudan.
Environment Secretary Thérèse 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.
I want Ukraine’s farmers to know that all British farmers stand
shoulder to shoulder with you.
