LONDON (Reuters) – British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will announce additional military aid to Ukraine of 500 million pounds (around 579 million euros) during a visit to Poland on Tuesday, warning that Russia must be defeated to prevent his troops from advancing further into Europe.
This trip, the first abroad in months for Rishi Sunak, aims to show that he is still in charge ahead of legislative elections expected this year, while polls show him the loser, against a backdrop of tumult within of his Conservative Party.
“Defending Ukraine against Russia’s brutal ambitions is vital for our security and for all of Europe,” the British leader said in a statement released ahead of his visit to Poland, during which he is due to meet the Prime Minister. Minister Donald Tusk.
“If (Russian President Vladimir) Putin is allowed to succeed in his war of aggression, he will not stop at the Polish border,” he added.
Since Moscow launched what Kyiv and its Western allies denounce as an invasion, London has appeared as one of Ukraine’s main supporters.
The new package announced will bring the total military aid provided by Britain to Ukraine in the past financial year to £3 billion.
In addition, London will also deliver a range of equipment, including hundreds of air defense missiles and nearly 4 million rounds of small arms ammunition.
Kyiv is urging its allies to step up their military aid, in particular by providing it with long-range weapons and air defense systems, in the face of recent advances by Russian troops.
(Elizabeth Piper; French version Jean Terzian)
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