• Friday, 22 November 2024

UK support for Ukraine 'as strong as ever', Sunak tells Zelensky

UK support for Ukraine 'as strong as ever', Sunak tells Zelensky
London, 26 October 2022 (dpa/MIA) - New British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak held his first call with President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday, pledging the UK's "steadfast support" for Ukraine. Both his predecessors Boris Johnson and Liz Truss had vocally promised full support to the war-torn country and on Tuesday evening the new prime minister said the UK's support would be as "strong as ever" under his leadership. Calling it a "privilege" to speak to Zelensky, who had earlier sent him congratulations, Sunak tweeted: "Both he and the Ukrainian people can count on the UK's continued solidarity and support. We will always stand with Ukraine." Zelensky, in a tweet, called it an "excellent conversation," with the pair agreeing to "write a new chapter" in relations between the two countries. Speaking outside Number 10 Downing Street on Tuesday, the new prime minister referenced Russia's invasion of Ukraine twice, saying: "Putin's war in Ukraine has destabilised energy markets and supply chains the world over." A Downing Street spokesperson said the pair spoke on Tuesday evening "to underline the United Kingdom's steadfast support for Ukraine." "The Prime Minister said the United Kingdom's support for Ukraine would be as strong as ever under his premiership, and President Zelensky could count on his Government to stand in continued solidarity." "The Prime Minister also noted the importance of the International Atomic Energy Agency's work in Ukraine to ensure nuclear safety and provide transparency around any disinformation."