Britain is looking to provide additional equipment to “secure Ukraine’s victory on the battlefield,” and Kyiv can count on Britain’s “long-term” support, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in a phone call on Tuesday.
Sunak spoke with Zelensky on Tuesday evening, with a readout of the conversation provided by Downing Street revealing the pair discussed the increase in Russian drone attacks before the UK leader pledged more support for Ukraine this year, already measured in billions.
Sunak told Downing Street that “Ukraine could count on the UK to continue to support it in the long term,” citing the recent delivery of 1,000 air defence missiles to Ukraine.
The missiles follow months of other military equipment deliveries, with the Anglo-Swedish NLAW missiles that London provided in large numbers early in the war generating headlines for their high-profile successes against Russian armour.
Following Russia’s bombing of Ukrainian energy infrastructure, the UK recently sent electrical generation equipment as well as 15,000 sets of cold weather uniforms for troops.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the United Kingdom has provided more military aid to Ukraine than any other country except the United States. The outcome of Sunak and Zelensky’s call strongly suggests that there will be much more to come.