President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will visit Downing Street tomorrow as Prime Minister Andy Burnham prepares to reassert the UK's support for Ukraine. The pair will meet at Number 10 on Wednesday morning (October 14).
Sanctions and energy ceasefire push
In the meeting, Burnham is expected to call on international partners to step up sanctions on Russia and increase pressure on Putin to agree to the United States' call for an energy ceasefire. The Prime Minister is also expected to announce more support for Ukraine, with £45 million of surface-to-air missiles deliveries for the Eastern European nation.
The UK will commit to plans to impose a maritime services ban on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports. The ban is designed to restrict Russia's control of the UK's world leading shipping and insurance services.
Missile deliveries accelerated
Plans will be put in place to speed up the delivery of British Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMMs) to Ukraine. The weapons have been described as 'extremely effective' against jet-powered drones that are being used to strike far beyond the front lines in Ukraine, including Kyiv and beyond. The drones are faster and can fly far higher than propeller-driven Shaheds, making them harder to detect and destroy before they hit targets.
The UK has already committed £1.6 billion to deliver more than 5000 LMMs to Ukraine over the next four years and will accelerate £10 million of the £45m package of missiles announced today to meet Ukraine's most urgent winter requirements.
Leaders' statements and diplomatic efforts
Ahead of the meeting, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: "Our rock-solid support to Ukraine is vital for keeping us safe here in the UK and ensuring those on the frontlines have the equipment they need to push back Russia. My message to the Ukrainian people could not be clearer, we are with you for as long as it takes, and we will go further and faster in our support to back your courageous fight for peace in Europe. It is not just the right thing to do, but it's the necessary thing to do. Russia's aggression cannot be allowed to succeed on our continent."
The Prime Minister has also asked Ministers to draw up further sanctions, military aid, and fiscal packages to provide urgent support in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, Chancellor John Healey will use his meetings at the IMF in Bangkok to urge partners to fully implement an equivalent ban on Russian LNG, following the UK's lead. This comes after the Foreign Secretary did the same with partners at the Warsaw Security Forum yesterday (October 13).
As Russia continues its bombardment of Ukraine's capital Kyiv and energy infrastructure, the Chancellor will argue that this must be met by European resolve and unity – ensuring our unshakeable commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty stands strong. Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey said: "Conflict in the Middle East and in Europe is hitting people across the world. As the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Putin continues, our commitment to the Ukrainian people is unshakeable. I urge partners to back the ban on Russian LNG, like we have done in the UK, to curtail the war chest funding Putin so desperately wants."
