Britain has pledged £17 million to fund critical repairs to the Chernobyl power plant, which was damaged by a Russian drone attack. The funding will help restore the plant's protective shelter and ventilation systems, which were hit in an attack last year.
The announcement came as Prime Minister Andy Burnham hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Downing Street on Wednesday, October 14, amid what Burnham described as “dark and difficult days” for the war-torn country. The UK leader told Zelensky that Britain was “behind you and that will not change”.
Support amid strained US-Ukraine relations
The meeting took place during a period of strained relations between Ukraine and the US, after President Donald Trump eased sanctions on Russian diesel last week, citing high fuel prices in America ahead of November's mid-term elections. The UK responded by pledging to “maintain pressure on Russia”.
Trump has also suggested that Ukraine needs a new leader and claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants a peace deal more than the government in Kyiv. Zelensky has said that use of Elon Musk's Starlink satellite communications system was “blocked” and that as a result “people will die”, admitting he felt betrayed by Trump. “It's a pity that we are losing, we are losing a strong partner,” he told Piers Morgan Uncensored.
Burnham promises not to leave Ukraine empty-handed
Speaking in the Commons ahead of the meeting, Burnham said he would seek to restore Trump's support for Ukraine. He said he was being “careful” in his language after the diesel deal, as he was “laying the ground” for a reconciliation. “I will listen to President Zelensky carefully, but he won't be going away from Britain today empty-handed,” he added.
During the meeting, Burnham confirmed that the UK would accelerate the supply of crucial air defence missiles to Ukraine amid “heavy bombardment” from Russia. The accelerated support will see faster deliveries of British lightweight multi-role missiles, which have proved effective against Russian jet-powered drones.
Funding for Chernobyl repairs announced
Chancellor John Healey said the Government's commitment to the Ukrainian people was “unshakeable”. “We are curtailing the war chest funding Putin so desperately wants and backing the reconstruction of Ukraine that has suffered at the hands of his barbaric attacks,” he said.
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said: “Our message to Putin is clear – we stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine and will do so until they prevail. Working with our allies, we are strengthening Ukraine's security, raising the cost of Russia's aggression and working towards a just and lasting peace.”
