Rishi Sunak has accepted an unpaid role as a member of the International Advisory Council for the Economic Renewal of Ukraine, a panel advising President Volodymyr Zelensky on economic reconstruction. The former prime minister attended the council's first meeting on Thursday alongside World Bank president Ajay Banga and other global figures.
The council, which includes representatives from businesses such as Siemens, BlackRock, Citigroup and ArcelorMittal, aims to provide expert advice to Mr Zelensky and his economic adviser, former Canadian deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland. Mr Sunak said he was “honoured” to support Ukraine and praised the country's resilience.
In a post on X, Mr Zelensky said the group discussed strengthening Ukraine's energy resilience ahead of next winter and broader investment opportunities, including in the defence industry. Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure have been a major issue, with Kyiv accusing Moscow of “weaponising” the cold.
Mr Sunak said: “The West needs a strong Ukraine, and a strong Ukraine needs a strong economy. I am confident that Ukraine can become one of the most dynamic economies in Europe.” He also holds advisory roles with Goldman Sachs, Microsoft and Anthropic, and is a visiting fellow at Stanford University.
