Britain’s David Cameron, in Kyiv, seeks more funding for Ukraine
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Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba (left) and British Foreign Secretary David Cameron in Kyiv, on May 2.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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KYIV – British Foreign Secretary David Cameron visited Kyiv and said Britain intends to gather Ukraine’s backers in June to raise funds for its under-pressure forces, his office said on May 2.
His visit comes after British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak last week announced £500 million (S$850 million) in additional military funding for Kyiv with the goal of reaching £3 billion a year.
Mr Cameron met President Volodymyr Zelensky and other senior Ukrainian officials to detail Britain’s “unequivocal support” in the form of precision-guided bombs, and air defence missiles and equipment for 100 mobile air defence teams, his office said in a statement.
Ukraine has consistently demanded more air defence equipment from its Western allies as its outnumbered and outgunned forces struggle to fend off Russia during the war, now in its third year.
Mr Cameron also “revealed that the UK intends to bring international partners together in June to attract additional contributions to the International Fund for Ukraine to meet Ukraine’s urgent capability requirements”.
Created in 2022, the fund has so far collected around US$1 billion (S$1.35 billion), with contributions from Britain, Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Lithuania, Iceland, Australia and New Zealand.
“This war is the challenge of our generation, and Ukraine cannot fight it alone. We must all step up to ensure Ukraine has what it needs to win,” the statement quoted Mr Cameron as saying in Kyiv.
“Through our multi-year military funding, weapons provision and vital support to protect and repair Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, the UK is standing with Ukraine, and we will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.” AFP
