Deeply humbling, says UK PM Rishi Sunak after his first go to to war-torn Ukraine

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Rishi Sunak, visited war-torn Ukraine for the primary time after assuming workplace and promised an array of help to Kyiv.

UK PM Rishi Sunak mentioned it was deeply humbling to be in Kyiv and met the Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. (Photo: AP)

By Press Trust of India: Rishi Sunak described as “deeply humbling” his first go to to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Saturday since taking cost as British Prime Minister and pledged to bolster the UK’s assist within the nation’s ongoing battle with Russia. Meeting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Sunak confirmed that Britain will present a serious new bundle of air defence to assist shield Ukrainian civilians and important nationwide infrastructure from an intense barrage of Russian strikes.

Britain is aware of what it means to combat for freedom.

We are with you all the best way @ZelenskyyUa 🇺🇦🇬🇧

Британія знає, що означає боротися за свободу.

Ми з вами до кінця @ZelenskyyUa 🇺🇦🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/HsL8s4Ibqa
— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) November 19, 2022

The GBP 50 million bundle of defence assist contains 125 anti-aircraft weapons and know-how to counter lethal Iranian-supplied drones, together with dozens of radars and anti-drone digital warfare functionality. It follows greater than 1,000 new anti-air missiles introduced by the UK’s Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace, earlier this month.

“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,” mentioned Sunak, who turned the British Prime Minister in October.

I AM PROUD

“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,” he mentioned.

“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,” he added.

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The UK has additionally pledged to reinforce its coaching supply to Ukrainian’s armed forces, sending professional military medics and engineers to the area to supply specialised assist. In Kyiv, Sunak laid flowers at a memorial for the warfare useless and lit a candle at a memorial for victims of the Holodomor famine, earlier than assembly first responders at a hearth station.

Downing Street mentioned the group of emergency responders described their harrowing work rescuing survivors from the rubble and preventing fires within the aftermath of Russian airstrikes and mortar assaults. Sunak additionally noticed captured Iranian-made drones which have been used to focus on and bomb civilians in current months.

ARRAY OF ASSISTANCE

With troublesome winter months forward of widespread blackouts of destruction of houses, colleges and hospitals, Downing Street mentioned the Prime Minister has additionally confirmed GBP 12 million for the World Food Programme’s response, in addition to GBP 4 million for the International Organisation for Migration. The funding will assist present mills, shelter, water repairs and cell well being clinics. The UK mentioned additionally it is sending tens of hundreds of utmost chilly winter kits for Ukrainian troops.

The UK authorities says it has recognized an preliminary eight development tasks to be supported by UK Export Finance, serving to to restore Ukraine’s crucial infrastructure and lay the foundations for financial restoration. The tasks embody six bridges and two housing tasks, together with a improvement in Bucha for some 2,250 residents.

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Published On:

Nov 20, 2022