- Foreign Secretary travels to Bosnia and
Herzegovina (BiH) on Thursday, where she will use an address to
BiH armed forces to urge partners to continue to rally behind
Ukraine, saying “we cannot take the foot off the accelerator
now”
- Truss aims to mobilise $100 million of UK-backed investment
in Western Balkans by 2025, through investment partnerships
agenda
- Truss will re-affirm UK’s commitment to peace and stability
in the Western Balkans, in the face of Russian malign influence
Foreign Secretary will today (Thursday 26 May) warn against “appeasement”
of Vladimir Putin and tell allies and partners there must be no
“backsliding” in support for Ukraine.
Truss will use a speech to BiH armed forces to rally allies for
greater support for Ukraine, including delivering more weapons
and targeted sanctions, and argue “we must all learn the lessons
of history” in standing up to Putin, ensuring he loses in
Ukraine. BiH has been a vocal partner in the region, calling out
Russia’s illegal behaviour in Ukraine.
In a speech to the BiH armed forces at Sarajevo’s Army Hall, the
Foreign Secretary will say:
“Russia’s aggression cannot be appeased. It must be met with
strength.
“We must not allow a prolonged and increasingly painful
conflict to develop in Ukraine.
“We must be relentless in ensuring Ukraine prevails through
military aid and sanctions. We can’t take our foot off the
accelerator now.”
Truss will also re-affirm the UK’s commitment to peace and
stability in the Western Balkans, announcing UK plans to deepen
its security and economic partnership with BiH in the face of
secessionists and Russian attempts to influence and destabilise
the country, a quarter-of-a-century since one of the worst
conflicts in Europe. She will announce her aim to mobilise $100
million of UK-backed investment in the Western Balkans by 2025,
through British International Investment’s partnerships agenda.
Addressing the secessionists within BiH directly, after
sanctioning two political figures last month for their
destabilising behaviour, Truss will say:
“Bosnia and Herzegovina’s future lies in sovereignty and
self-determination, in greater partnership with NATO and
countries like the UK.”
On Friday (27 May), the British Foreign Secretary continues her
European visit, as she arrives in Prague for talks with Foreign
Minister Jan Lipavský. She will praise the Czech Republic for its
tough stance towards Russia, including supplying tanks to
Ukraine, and urge more countries to follow its example.
Truss will also galvanise allies, including the Czech Republic,
to work together on a new Marshall Plan for Ukraine, ensuring the
country’s speedy reconstruction.
In Prague, the Foreign Secretary will also sign a statement of
intent to agree a Strategic Bilateral Framework between the UK
and Czech Republic, ensuring we work more closely together in a
number of areas, including security cooperation, trade, science
& innovation and climate.
