Rishi Sunak will call on world leaders to ensure a “lasting peace” for Ukraine with the establishment of a new Nato charter to help the country defend itself “again and again” in the face of any future declarations of war by Russia.
Fresh from hosting the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in the UK last week, Sunak is expected to call for countries to “double down on our military support” and warn that “the security and sovereignty of every nation” is at stake.
He will mark the approaching one-year anniversary of the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine by attending the Munich Security Conference, and urge fellow premiers not to “lose our nerve” in upholding sanctions and providing military kit.
Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, was also due to speak at the conference, but strikes at Munich airport meant a planned flight from Poland to Germany was cancelled. He had been in Ukraine, visiting Zelenskiy to affirm that a Labour government would be unwavering in its support for Kyiv.
Zelenskiy urges west to speed up arms support to head off Russia offensiveRead more
Starmer’s space on a panel will be filled instead by David Lammy, the shadow foreign secretary, while the shadow defence secretary, John Healey, is also at the conference.
Although Sunak will use the sidelines of the security conference to speak to EU leaders about talk of an imminent breakthrough on post-Brexit trading arrangements in Northern Ireland, his main objective will be maintaining western unity against Russia.
“Now is the moment to double down on our military support,” the prime minister is expected to say. “When [Vladimir] Putin started this war, he gambled that our resolve would falter. Even now he is betting we will lose our nerve. But we proved him wrong then, and we will prove him wrong now.”
Pushing for a new Nato charter to protect Ukraine from future Russian aggression, he is expected to say: “We must demonstrate that we’ll remain by their side, willing and able to help them defend their country again and again.”
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Last year, the UK provided military aid worth £2.3bn, including tanks, other armoured vehicles, and anti-tank missiles. No 10 has committed to matching or exceeding that level of support in 2023.
A minute’s silence will be held at 11am on Friday 24 February to mark the anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine.
2023-02-17 17:30:21
Post from www.theguardian.com
The United Kingdom’s (UK) Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, has called for the creation of a new NATO charter that can bring lasting peace to Ukraine after decades of turmoil. This call was made during NATO’s London summit this week.
Mr. Sunak stated that the new charter would create a more secure and stable Ukraine, free of any form of foreign interference and aggression. The Chancellor also said that the charter would allow all nations to work together to confront the growing threat of illegal interference in the region. Such a charter, Mr. Sunak emphasized, would be a valuable asset for all of NATO’s members in securing peace and stability in the region.
NATO’s Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg echoed the UK Chancellor’s remarks, pointing out that the current risks to Ukraine’s security and stability should not be taken lightly. He stated that it was imperative for NATO to remain engaged and provide support to Ukraine in order to help end the conflict and build lasting peace.
Mr. Sunak discussed other solutions to the conflict, such as increasing NATO investments in the region and supporting Ukraine’s defence reforms. He also thanked the alliance for its unified stance on the matter and encouraged other members to follow suit.
The call for a NATO charter is the latest move by the UK to help restore peace and stability to Ukraine. The UK has also been actively involved in international efforts to support the country in its reform and modernization efforts.
This move by the UK Chancellor is a welcome one, and it presents a significant opportunity for NATO to work together to ensure that the region remains peaceful.