«On January 12, 2024, the Prime Minister of the UK Rishi Sunak and President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a historic UK-Ukraine Security Agreement, making clear that we will always support the Defence of Ukraine and its people. The UK is the first G7 country to do this.
«We have also announced the biggest single package of defence support to Ukraine since the war began, worth £2.5 billion. This includes the production of thousands of military drones, allowing Ukrainian defence to continue to protect Ukrainians and repel Russian invaders.
We are also providing additional funding to fortify Ukraine’s energy infrastructure against further Russian attacks, as well as an additional £18 million to deliver humanitarian aid on the front line.
The Ukrainian Government has also announced it will promote English in Ukraine to boost economic growth and diplomatic ties. The UK will help in this effort, providing additional funding and resources for English language training. Since the beginning of this conflict, the British people have stood with Ukraine. That support will not falter», – UK Prime Minister reported.
The Prime Minister of Great Britain also visited the Ukrainian Parliament, where he addressed the deputies and the Ukrainian people.
«I am a member of one of the world’s oldest parliaments. Today, I had the honour of addressing the world’s bravest. Slava Ukraini! Ronald Reagan once said that freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on to our children for them to do the same. Ukrainians know this more than anyone. We stand with them, for as long as it takes», – Rishi Sunak said.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy security agreement with the UK and results of his trip to the Baltic states
«We see the belief in our country, the respect for our people. This has been achieved through the valour of each and every one who did not fear the enemy thanks to the strong support of partners like the UK, who reinforce the fight for freedom. Thank you to all Ukrainians for their efforts in protecting our state. Thank you to all Britons for solidarity and all the assistance», – said the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
«January 12, 2024 is the day when the history of Europe changed. Ukraine and the United Kingdom concluded a new and unprecedented security agreement. This is not just a declaration. This is a reality that will come thanks to our cooperation and, in particular, security guarantees from a prominent global power – Great Britain», – – said the President of Ukraine.
«We agreed on annual support for Ukraine, on comprehensive cooperation for the sake of the sufficient potential of our Defense and Security Forces, our defence-industrial complex, our state institutions and social systems. Thanks to this, we will reach such a security level that the very fact of its existence will serve to deter aggressive Russia. The term of this agreement with Britain is 10 years. The term may be extended – by analogy with other similar security treaties concluded by global leaders. Thank you for this result and for such trust in Ukraine to all the British – each and every one who has been with us all this time and who wants life and justice to win, just as we want it!», – emphasized Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
«This day has already entered the history of our state: today, we have an agreement with the UK, a security agreement that we have been working on for a long time. It is the first bilateral agreement implementing the G7 basic understanding of security commitments for Ukraine, our defence, our security growth. I thank the UK and Prime Minister Sunak for being first and your leadership.And, of course, I want to thank all our friends in the Baltic States – the three visits were very fruitful. Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia. There are decisions regarding weapons for our warriors, regarding economic support for Ukraine. Support for our relations with the European Union. Our movement towards NATO. Important decisions that will definitely strengthen us all. Europe will endure only when it is a continent of unity. Over these two years, we have all shown the highest level of unity», – added President of Ukraine.
The reaction of Ukrainian and British politicians to the signing of UK-Ukraine security agreement
Many members of the Ukrainian parliament and deputies spoke about the arrival of Rishi Sunak to Ukraine, the signing of the security agreement and the provision of a new package of military aid from Great Britain.
They expressed hope for an increase in military aid to Ukraine from other countries as well, and also thanked Great Britain for its strong support of our country.
«Rishi Sunak visited Ukraine. He brought good news and long-term security guarantees to Kyiv. This is the best answer to Putin, who convening the UN Council on the operation of the US and Great Britain against Iran’s friends, the Houthis, in Yemen», – said Oleksiy Goncharenko, a member of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, a member of the Ukrainian delegation to PACE, and vice-president of the PACE Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk expressed words of support: «A historic moment. Ukrainian people, defenders are holding the line, continuing to fight for Ukraine’s independence and territorial integrity. And this is thanks, in particular, to the help of the United Kingdom, which continues to stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine. Ukraine has reliable and loyal allies.
Important messages from the Prime Minister Sunak. Firstly, it is an increased defence package, which will include weapons that are important for our fight. Second, it is cooperation on an increase in defence industrial production. And thirdly, a security treaty that will be in place until Ukraine joins NATO. Thank the UK for this important support».
UK Secretary of State for Defence Grant Shapps tweeted: «We said our support would be unwavering and today we’ve proved it. Putin hoped the West would be distracted by events in the Middle East but today we’ve taken the critical step to increase our military support to Ukraine, to get them more of what they need to win. With £2.5 billion to get Ukraine the advanced capabilities and drones they need to defeat Putin and train more Ukrainian soldiers to defend freedom’s frontline against tyranny. At £2.5 billion , our latest Ukraine support package is our biggest yet. It comes with a new Security & Co-operation Agreement forming the first part of a 100-year plan we’re working on to move us well beyond a defence only relationship with our Ukrainian friends».
James Heappey, the armed forces minister, has said there will be no loss in patience among Ukraine’s allies as he was questioned why the Government had not provided a long running support package.
«They are exactly the multi-year capability development programmes that give the Ukrainians that certainty around the development of their capabilities over the arc of a decade, and equally importantly, give Putin the certainty that there is no loss in patience and commitment from Ukraine’s Western supporters.», he added.
Ivan Tarn, a veteran of the Russo-Ukrainian War, ambassador of The Ukrainian Review said: «Great Britain is the first country to sign a security agreement with Ukraine. Despite the fact that calls for negotiations are increasingly heard in Western media resources and politics, the UK has clearly taken a position to stand by Ukraine in restoring its sovereignty and territorial integrity. The latest record-setting missile strikes once again show the terrorist nature of Russia. It must be defeated, because in the modern world, the actions of the aggressor lead only to the collapse of the world order».
Conclusion
Such help from the UK is relevant because just this morning, January 13, 2024, Russia launched 37 missiles at Ukraine, 8 of which were shot down by Ukrainian air defence. According to experts, Russia spent approximately $239 million on this missile and drone attack. The signed security guarantees that will be valid until Ukraine joins NATO and the new package of military aid from Great Britain will help to more effectively resist Russian aggression. New long-range missiles and air defence systems will be the first step to restore safe skies over our country. But it is very important that other countries also follow the example of the UK and adopt a policy at the national level that corresponds to the words of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak “We will help you win the war“.
