Burnham pledges ‘rock-solid support’ for Ukraine as Zelenskyy makes UK trip
The British leader has asked ministers to draw up proposals for further sanctions, military support and fiscal packages to help the war-torn country.
London—Andy Burnham pledged unwavering support for Ukraine as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy prepares to arrive in the U.K. on Wednesday. Prime Minister Boris Johnson implored global partners to tighten sanctions against Russia and implored President Vladimir Putin to endorse an energy truce in advance of Zelenskyy’s visit to Downing Street. It will be the Ukrainian president's inaugural trip to a European capital since President Donald Trump temporarily lifted sanctions on Russian diesel fuel on Friday.
According to a No. 10 statement, Burnham emphasized that the U.K.'s "rock-solid support" for Ukraine is critical for safeguarding the country and ensuring frontline personnel have the necessary weaponry to counter Russian aggression. Burnham added, "My message to the Ukrainian people could not be clearer, we are with you for as long as it takes, and we will go further and faster in our support to back your courageous fight for peace in Europe.
It is not just the right thing to do, but it’s the necessary thing to do. Russia's aggression cannot be allowed to succeed on our continent."
Downing Street reported that Prime Minister Boris Johnson has requested his ministers to draft proposals for additional sanctions, military aid, and financial packages to bolster Ukraine in the forthcoming weeks. The U.K. will provide £45 million in surface-to-air missiles and enforce a ban on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports.
Additionally, Britain plans to expedite the delivery of over 5,000 Lightweight Multirole Missiles to Ukraine over the next four years, with £1.6 billion in funding, according to Downing Street. Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey will leverage meetings at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Bangkok to encourage other nations to enact a comparable LNG ban, arguing it would "curtail the war chest funding Putin so desperately desires."
European leaders are anticipated to leverage a European Council summit on Thursday to back more stringent sanctions on Moscow following Trump's agreement with Russia to alleviate restrictions on its diesel exports.
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