WARSAW: UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak arrived in Warsaw on Tuesday for crucial talks with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, with a primary focus on Ukraine’s security and broader European defense concerns.
During his visit to Poland’s capital, Sunak announced a significant commitment of £500 million ($617 million) in additional military aid to support Ukraine in its ongoing struggle against Russia’s full-scale invasion, according to a statement from Downing Street.
“Defending Ukraine against Russia’s brutal ambitions is vital for our security and for all of Europe. If Putin is allowed to succeed in this war of aggression, he will not stop at the Polish border,” Sunak emphasized ahead of his trip.
A Downing Street spokesperson confirmed that Sunak had spoken with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier in the day to reaffirm the UK’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s defense efforts.
The spokesperson outlined that the additional £500 million funding would prioritize crucial capabilities such as ammunition, air defense systems, and drones to bolster Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
On the plane to Warsaw, Sunak elaborated on discussions with President Zelensky, particularly focusing on Ukraine’s urgent air defense requirements. “You will see that package that we have announced today is the single biggest package that we have ever announced in one day,” Sunak told reporters.
Zelensky expressed gratitude to the UK for the substantial show of support, highlighting the significance of strengthening defense cooperation between the two nations.
Sunak’s visit to Eastern Europe coincides with Ukraine’s appeals to its allies for increased supplies of ammunition and air defense systems to counter Russian aggression. Western countries face mounting pressure to enhance their defense spending amid escalating tensions with Russia.
Ukraine has experienced a critical shortage of ammunition in recent months, prompting urgent calls for assistance from Europe and the United States.
While US lawmakers recently unblocked a $61-billion military aid package for Kyiv, EU member states continue to face calls to expedite arms deliveries to Ukraine.
Following his engagements in Poland, Sunak will proceed to Germany for discussions with Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin, where the focus will likely center on bolstering NATO’s air defenses in response to Russia’s ongoing missile strikes on Ukraine.
