British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has pledged continuous support for Ukraine in its war against Russia, declaring that Russian President Vladimir Putin will not outlast the resolve of the Western nations backing Ukraine. Speaking on the sidelines of the G-7 Summit in Italy, Sunak outlined the UK’s and the West’s commitments to Ukraine, emphasizing that they are in this endeavor for the long haul.
“Ukraine’s security is our security. We are in this for the long-term. Putin will not outlast us,” Sunak asserted. “The UK has committed £3 billion in military aid every year till the end of the decade. We are ramping up the economic pressure on Russia with 50 new sanctions this week alone, and we have just announced £250 million for reconstruction.”
Sunak also stressed that Russia must bear the financial burden of the devastation it has caused in Ukraine. “As I have long argued, Russia itself must pay for the destruction it has caused, and now Russia will pay,” Sunak said. He referred to the $50 billion loan approved by the G-7 for Ukraine, which will be repaid from frozen Russian assets as a result of sanctions imposed following the invasion of Ukraine.
“The G-7 has reached a historic breakthrough. After months of intensive discussions, we have agreed on a new loan for Ukraine worth $50 billion, and it will not be repaid by our taxpayers but by extraordinary revenues that come from frozen Russian assets in Europe and around the world. This is just and it is right. But true justice will only come when Russia leaves Ukraine,” Sunak stated.
The loan will be used for the purchase of weapons and reconstruction. It comes at a time when Ukraine has faced a series of defeats in recent months. Despite these setbacks, Sunak emphasized that the West’s support for Ukraine will continue until peace is achieved on Ukraine’s terms.
“Peace will not mean Ukraine’s surrender,” Sunak said. “Putin’s Russia is the aggressor. They brought war to a peaceful continent, wreaked death and destruction on the people of Ukraine, caused famine and hardship around the world.”
The war in Ukraine has plunged Europe into its worst security crisis since World War II, highlighting the continent’s reliance on the United States for security, Russia for energy, and China for trade. Despite these challenges, Sunak remained resolute in his support for Ukraine.
“We, the G-7, will stand united with Ukraine until that day comes,” Sunak declared. “We must work towards a future for Ukraine that’s peaceful, democratic, and free.”
In April, Sunak had announced that the UK would increase its defense spending to 2.5% of its GDP by 2030 and provide an additional £500 million in military funding to Ukraine.
