Sunak Pledges £240M to Ukraine as G7 Leaders Convene to Escalate Pressure on Russia

Rishi Sunak plans to announce a £240 million support package for Ukraine during the upcoming G7 summit in Italy, which may be his final appearance as Prime Minister. He will affirm the UK's unwavering support for Ukraine.

Political journalist @tamcohen

Wednesday, June 12, 2024, 10:

Rishi Sunak is poised to announce a £240 million support package for Ukraine during a global summit focused on ramping up economic sanctions against Russia.

The prime minister, possibly attending his final G7 summit in his current role, will take the opportunity during his trip to Puglia to express the UK's unwavering support for Ukraine "no matter what," as the conflict continues.

Downing Street announced that the funds will be allocated to urgent humanitarian relief and the restoration of vital energy facilities damaged by Russian airstrikes, in addition to broader reconstruction efforts.

This component is included in a £2.5 billion defense support package for Ukraine for this year. During a visit to Kyiv in January, Mr. Sunak confirmed the UK-Ukraine security agreement, which features the most substantial drone donation made by any country.

Despite the financial pledge being announced prior to the announcement of the general election, the prime minister anticipates that emphasizing Ukraine will counter criticisms of his disinterest in international issues. This follows the controversy surrounding his premature exit from the D-Day events, an issue that has persistently plagued his campaign.

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Before the summit in Italy, Mr. Sunak stated, "At this crucial juncture, it is imperative that we act boldly and innovatively to back Ukraine and halt Putin's unlawful conflict."

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"From the beginning, the UK has continued to lead the global response effort.

"We need to shift our approach from 'as long as it takes' to 'whatever it takes' to put an end to this unlawful conflict.

"From Ukraine to the Middle East, the summit will address major international dangers. These threats underscore the importance of bolstering the UK's national defense, evidenced by our pledge to allocate 2.5% of GDP to defense spending by 2030."

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Many leaders from the Group of Seven are under pressure to perform, as they confront potentially challenging interactions with their voters.

French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that parliamentary elections will be held at the end of the month.

US President Joe Biden is set to participate and is anticipated to enter into a bilateral security pact with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has been invited to the summit.

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The White House announced plans to demonstrate U.S. determination to back Kyiv, sending a clear message to Russia. This comes three years after President Biden, during his inaugural G7 summit in Cornwall, proclaimed that America had reassumed its role as a global leader.

Russia dominates the discussions at the G7 summit, where leaders are set to deliberate on the utilization of seized Russian assets, collectively valued at $285 billion, to aid Ukraine.

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A divide seems to have surfaced between the United States and European governments concerning a plan to provide Ukraine with a $50 billion loan.

The majority of the seized assets, maintained by the G7 countries since 2022, are located within Europe. According to statements from EU diplomats, it appears that French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz plan to inform U.S. President Joe Biden that they are unwilling to serve as guarantors for the loan. They are concerned about assuming the full risk, while U.S. firms might reap the greatest rewards from the contracts to rebuild Ukraine.

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British authorities have stated that ensuring Russia compensates for the destruction it has inflicted on Ukraine is a top concern for the prime minister and other top officials, and they are investigating "every legal option" available.

The head of government is anticipated to engage in conversations with other global leaders about worldwide migration issues, climate change, and artificial intelligence, along with discussions aimed at achieving a ceasefire in the Middle East.

The UN Security Council has endorsed a US-proposed resolution that calls for the release of hostages and an exchange of prisoners.

The United States has announced that Israel has agreed to the proposal, although there have been inconsistent statements from Mr. Netanyahu. Meanwhile, it took Hamas two weeks to suggest amendments, some of which the US has considered impractical.

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