Tag: Coalition of the Willing

Britain is 100% behind you: Andy Burnham visits Kyiv on Ukrainian Independence Day

Andy Burnham will arrive in Ukraine today for his first overseas visit as Prime Minister

  • Prime Minister in Kyiv for first international visit to reiterate UK’s unwavering commitment to Ukraine
  • Comes as the Prime Minister announces the UK has agreed that defence firm MBDA can release classified information on UK components for the long-range missile, SCALP, to establish local assembly lines in Ukraine
  • Burnham expected to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and chair his first meeting of the Coalition of the Willing, alongside other world leaders in the city to mark Independence Day

Andy Burnham will arrive in Ukraine today (Monday 24 August) for his first overseas visit as Prime Minister.

Just weeks after welcoming President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the UK in July as his first international guest, the Prime Minister has travelled to Kyiv to reiterate the UK’s unwavering support for the Ukrainian people.

Visiting on Independence Day, the Prime Minister will tell the Ukrainian people that the UK is four-square behind Ukraine’s independence, and Russia’s threats only strengthen the UK’s resolve.

To underline the strength of this commitment, the Prime Minister is set to announce that the Government has agreed that defence firm MBDA can release classified information on UK components for the long-range missile, SCALP, as Ukraine and France look to establish local assembly lines in Ukraine.

The missile is the French-produced version of the UK’s Storm Shadow, with both using shared French and British technology.

The move follows the UK being the first to gift long-range strike weapons for defensive purposes to Ukraine in 2023 and will allow the French and Ukrainians to move forward with the Ukrainian assembly of the missile.

It also complements the major UK effort to rapidly develop low-cost advanced long-range strike weapons for Ukraine through Project Brakestop.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: “On Ukraine’s 35th anniversary of independence, the Ukrainian people should be in no doubt: the UK is behind you today and for as long as it takes.

“I am proud of the contribution our country has made to Ukraine and I want the Ukrainian people to hear it directly from me that our support will not waver. After all, Ukraine’s security is our security.

“The friendship between our two countries will long outlast Russia’s illegal war. In both the fight and in the rebuilding to come, we will stand with Ukraine and deliver opportunities for people across both our countries.

“Russia should be in no doubt of our resolve. We will not back down until there is a just and lasting peace.”

While in Kyiv, the Prime Minister will take part in Independence Day events and co-chair his first meeting of the Coalition of the Willing to discuss how the UK can continue to support Ukraine as it courageously defends itself against Russia’s illegal invasion. 

He will tell international partners that the UK’s leadership on Ukraine will remain steadfast under his Government.

While in Kyiv, the Prime Minister is expected to be presented with an award on behalf of the British people, in recognition of the United Kingdom’s support.

The UK has been one of Ukraine’s foremost partners since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, providing a range of military, economic, and diplomatic support, underpinned by the UK and Ukraine’s 100 Year Partnership.

This includes leading efforts to secure Ukraine’s long-term security alongside France as co-chairs of the Coalition of the Willing, and committing £25 billion in funding, including £16 billion in military assistance and £5.6 billion in non-military support.

‘Coalition of the Willing’ set to meet as leaders focus on crippling Russia’s ability to wage war

European leaders set to arrive in London today for a meeting of the ‘Coalition of Willing’ as Ukraine’s allies ramp up pressure on Russia heading into winter

  • Global leaders set to convene this afternoon both in person in London, and virtually, to discuss how they can pile pressure on Putin
  • Prime Minister will urge leaders to act to take Russian oil and gas off the global market, finish the job on Russian sovereign assets to unlock billions of pounds to fund Ukraine’s defences, and step up the gifting of long-range capabilities
  • Meeting comes as the Prime Minister announces acceleration of missile delivery programme to deliver 140 lightweight-multirole missiles to Ukraine this winter, supporting UK jobs

PILING PRESSURE ON PUTIN?

European leaders are set to arrive in London today for a critical meeting of the ‘Coalition of Willing’ as Ukraine’s allies ramp up pressure on Russia heading into winter.

Leaders will convene this afternoon, both in person and virtually, to discuss how they can pile pressure on Putin as he continues to kill innocent civilians with indiscriminate attacks across Ukraine, including hitting a nursery filled with toddlers and children this week.

The London hosted meeting comes after Putin proved yet again that he is not serious about ending his illegal war, failing to engage with President Trump’s most recent proposals for meaningful peace talks.

Leaders are expected to use the meeting to focus the world’s attention on how they can further strengthen Ukraine’s hand and cripple Russia’s ability to continue to wage war.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “The only person involved in this conflict who does not want to stop the war is President Putin, and his depraved strikes on young children in a nursery this week make that crystal clear.

“Time and again we offer Putin the chance to end his needless invasion, to stop the killing and recall his troops, but he repeatedly rejects those proposals and any chance of peace.

“From the battlefield to the global markets, as Putin continues to commit atrocities in Ukraine we must ratchet up the pressure on Russia and build on President Trump’s decisive action.

“After all, Ukraine’s security matters to us all, and what happens on the frontline of Donetsk today is shaping our collective future for years to come.”

In the past fortnight, the international community has stepped up its decisive action to force President Putin back to the negotiating table and secure a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.

That has included the US’ decisive action this week to place a chokehold round Putin’s finance flows and sanction two of the largest Russian oil companies, following the UK action taken last week.

The European Union has also adopted its 19th sanctions package against Russia, further targeting the Russian oil trade and cracking down on financial loopholes, and Ukraine’s allies have accelerated work to use the full value of immobilised Russian Sovereign Assets to support Ukraine – a move that would be unprecedented and finance Ukraine’s war efforts for years to come.

The government has been clear that the UK’s national security – the foundation of the Government’s Plan for Change – starts in Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister Dick Schoof, as well as the NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte, are all expected to attend the meeting in person at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office today.

They will be greeted by children from St Mary’s Ukrainian School, which has welcomed hundreds of displaced Ukrainian children since Russia’s full-scale invasion.

A further 20 leaders are expected to dial into the call.

During the call, the Prime Minister is expected to call on leaders to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position going into the winter. He will urge leaders to act to take Russian oil and gas off the global market, finish the job on Russian sovereign assets to unlock billions of pounds to fund Ukraine’s defences, and step up the gifting of long-range capabilities to ensure Ukraine can build on its success of this week.

Leaders will also discuss how more can be done to protect energy infrastructure, as Russia continues to systematically destroy critical national infrastructure, plunging millions of innocent Ukrainians into the cold and dark.

The Prime Minister will announce that a UK missile building programme has been accelerated to deliver more than 100 extra air defence missiles ahead of schedule to bolster Ukraine’s defences through the depths of winter.

The package forms part of the £1.6bn deal between UK industry and Ukraine in March to provide more than 5,000 lightweight-multirole missiles (LMM) to support Ukraine’s defence, creating 200 jobs and supporting 700 existing jobs at Thales in Belfast.

The contract tripled the LMM production capacity and as work has progressed quicker than expected the delivery of an extra 140 LMMs will be accelerated to provide to Ukraine in the winter months.

Starmer galvanises ‘Coalition of the Willing’

PRIME MINISTER KEIR STARMER’s WORDS AT KYIV PRESS CONFERENCE

Volodymyr, friends, it is a real pleasure to be here in Kyiv with you all. With Emmanuel, with Friedrich, and with Donald. 

This is Europe, stepping up, showing our solidarity with Ukraine, and also showing during this week when we mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day that we understand the lessons of history.

The lesson that any veteran of Normandy, of North Africa or any other campaign will tell you but that Putin has not yet grasped:

There is no glory in aggression and conquest – glory comes from fighting for your country, defending your people, and winning the peace. 

And that is the message of this moment.

Volodymyr, we stand with you to secure the just and lasting peace that Ukraine deserves. 

It’s almost two months now since you agreed to an immediate 30-day ceasefire. In that time Russia has launched some of the most deadly attacks on civilians of the entire war. Including here in Kyiv.

Normal lives, homes, families destroyed.

This is what Russia offers in place of peace along with delays and smokescreens – like the current 72 hour ceasefire.

And so all of us here – together with the US – are calling Putin out.

If he’s serious about peace then he has a chance to show it now – by extending the VE Day pause into a full, unconditional 30-day ceasefire with negotiations to follow immediately, once a ceasefire is agreed.

No more ifs and buts. No more conditions and delays. Putin didn’t need conditions when he wanted a ceasefire to have a parade. And he doesn’t need them now. 

Ukraine has shown their willingness to engage again and again. But again and again Putin has refused.

So we are clear – all five leaders here, all the leaders of the meeting we just had with the Coalition of the Willing – an unconditional ceasefire rejecting Putin’s conditions. And clear that if he turns his back on peace, we will respond. 

Working with President Trump, with all our partners, we will ramp up sanctions and increase our military aid for Ukraine’s defence to pressure Russia back to the table. 

And that’s what we have been discussing today – as well as securing Ukraine’s future for the longer term.

Convening the latest meeting of the Coalition of the Willing with partners joining virtually from around Europe and across the world – lining up to support Ukraine’s future strength and security, discussing operational plans and making concrete commitments of support across land, air and sea.

We want to help Ukraine look to the future with confidence – so we’re working to boost Ukraine’s economy.

And as a vital step, I’m pleased that UK experts have been on the ground leading work to support the resumption of flights into Ukraine, once a ceasefire is achieved. 

It will take time – but this will be a huge moment in reconnecting Ukraine’s economy, boosting investor confidence, and helping to reunite families separated by this war. 

Ukraine secure and thriving – that is what we all want to see.

With our 100-year partnership, the Critical Minerals deal with the US, and our Coalition of the Willing, we are building the framework for peace in Ukraine to support a better future for the Ukrainian people.

And to pledge once again, in our all interests, and on this anniversary, that aggression will never prevail on our continent.

Thank you.

‘Coalition of the Willing’: The world needs action, says Starmer

PRIME MINISTER’S STATEMENT FOLLOWING LEADERS’ MEETING

This morning I convened the largest, strongest group of countries yet behind a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. 

Now a huge amount has happened since I brought leaders together at Lancaster House here in London, just two weeks ago. 

President Zelenskyy has shown once again, and beyond any doubt, that Ukraine is the party of peace. Volodymyr has committed to a 30-day unconditional ceasefire.

But Putin is trying to delay – saying there must be a painstaking study before a ceasefire can take place. 

Well, the world needs action. Not a study, not empty words and conditions. So my message is very clear. Sooner or later, Putin will have to come to the table. 

So, this is the moment, let the guns fall silent, let the barbaric attacks on Ukraine, once and for all, stop and agree to a ceasefire now.

And let’s be clear why this is so important – Russia’s appetite for conflict and chaos undermines our security back here at home.

It drives up the cost of living. It drives up energy costs.

So this matters deeply to the United Kingdom. 

That is why now is the time to engage in discussions on a mechanism to manage and monitor a full ceasefire and agree to serious negotiations towards not just a pause but a lasting peace, backed by strong security arrangements through our Coalition of the Willing.  

And we won’t sit back and wait for Putin to act. 

Instead we will keep pushing forward. 

So the group I convened today is more important than ever.

It brings together partners from across Europe as well as Canada, Australia and New Zealand, with backing from others too – including Japan. 

We agreed we will keep increasing the pressure on Russia, keep the military aid flowing to Ukraine and keep tightening the restrictions on Russia’s economy to weaken Putin’s war machine and bring him to the table. 

And we agreed to accelerate our practical work to support a potential deal. 

So we will now move into an operational phase.

Our militaries will meet on Thursday this week here in the UK to put strong and robust plans in place to swing in behind a peace deal and guarantee Ukraine’s future security.

President Trump has offered Putin the way forward to a lasting peace. Now we must make this a reality.

So this is the moment to keep driving towards the outcome we want to see, to end the killing. A just and lasting peace in Ukraine and lasting security for all of us.