British PM Rishi Sunak Assures Ukraine of Military Aid
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak assured Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky on Saturday that the United Kingdom would ship Challenger 2 tanks, one of Britain’s main armoured combat vehicles, and artillery systems to assist Ukraine troops in repelling the Russian invasion that began in February 2022.
Following a telephone conversation between the two leaders, a Downing Street spokesperson said Sunak had pledged his ambition to increase Britain’s support for Ukraine and more details on the aid package would be released soon. The two leaders agreed on the urgency for military and diplomatic support for Ukraine and Poland’s offer to supply a Leopard tank company was valued.
The Prime Minister stressed that he and the British government would intensify their collaborations with international partners to ensure Ukraine would quickly receive sufficient aid. This was welcomed by Andriy Yermak, one of Zelensky’s top advisers, who expressed appreciation for Sunak’s help.
The Challenger 2 tank has been in British service since 1994 and has seen deployment in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Iraq. The UK remains one of the most prominent European countries in its financial and military aid to Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian invasion.
