The Foreign Secretary, Lord , will call for greater action
from world leaders at this year’s World Economic Forum in a bid
to mobilise international support and cooperation on the world’s
biggest challenges.
As part of a two-day programme, the Foreign Secretary will meet
with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Ukraine’s Foreign
Minister Dmytro Kuleba, Bill Gates, and others to discuss the
need for continued collaboration and fresh thinking, including to
tackle ongoing conflicts.
The Foreign Secretary will reiterate his support for Ukraine in a
discussion with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine,
Dmytro Kuleba, which will focus on the need for unity to lay the
foundations for Ukraine’s long-term future and to win the war.
Foreign Secretary Lord said:
The world has changed significantly since I first entered
government, and we live in very unstable, uncertain and dangerous
times. The global impact of conflicts, diseases and climate
change is sadly growing. But as the challenges increase, so too
must our efforts.
In my discussion with Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, I will make
clear the UK will continue to be a steadfast supporter of
Ukraine, so it not only wins the war, but emerges from it as a
strong, sovereign, and free country.
Ukraine is standing up for the rules that keep us all safe. This
is why the UK has provided almost £12 billion in support to
Ukraine. We will stand with them for as long as it takes to
achieve victory.
The meeting with the Ukrainian Foreign Minister comes as the UK’s
Development Finance Institution, British International Investment
(BII), launches its first investment in Ukraine, committing $25
million to ensure Ukraine remains connected to a global economy.
This previously announced investment to the International Finance
Corporation (IFC)’s Global Trade Finance Programme, alongside
investments from the US International Development Finance
Corporation and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency,
will open access to financing for $1 billion of Ukrainian imports
and exports, including vital food supplies.
Russia’s aggression has disrupted Ukraine’s cross-border trade
and hit its economy. The commitment of $25 million through
British International Investment comes ahead of the investment of
£250 million of new capital for BII which the Prime Minister
announced at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in June 2023.
It also follows the announcement that the UK will increase
military funding for Ukraine in the next financial year to £2.5
billion, an increase of £200 million on the previous two years.
The funding will help leverage the best of UK military expertise
and defence production to ensure Ukraine’s victory on the
battlefield, including in critical areas like long-range
missiles, air defence, artillery ammunition and maritime
security.
While at Davos, the Foreign Secretary will also emphasise the
need for security and stability in the Middle East and reiterate
the four things that must happen for a peaceful solution to the
Israel-Hamas war – a Palestinian-led government in Gaza and the
West Bank, a concrete plan to help reform and support the
Palestinian Authority, a major reconstruction plan for Gaza, and
a political horizon towards a two-state solution.
The Foreign Secretary will also have meetings covering the UN’s
Sustainable Development Goals, Multilateral Development Banks,
and greater international cooperation to tackle global threats –
such as diseases and climate change.
