British Foreign Secretary David Cameron pledged three billion pounds ($3.74 billion) in annual military aid to Ukraine on Thursday, May 2, for “as long as it takes,” adding that London had no objection to the use of its weapons inside Russia, according to Reuters.
“We will give three billion pounds every year for as long as is necessary. We’ve just really emptied all we can in terms of giving equipment. Some of that [equipment] is actually arriving in Ukraine today, while I’m here.”
Cameron stated that Ukraine had the right to use weapons provided by the UK to strike targets inside Russia, but it was up to Kyiv to decide whether to do so.
Ukraine has that right. Just as Russia is striking inside Ukraine, you can quite understand why Ukraine feels the need to make sure it’s defending itself.
He met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and President Volodymyr Zelensky during his second visit to Kyiv as foreign minister. The British Embassy in Kyiv stated:
“The minister has begun negotiations with Ukraine on a 100-year partnership, a new agreement that will build strong ties between our two countries across the entire spectrum of relations: from trade, security and defence, to science and technology, education, culture and more.”
Cameron’s visit to Kyiv came shortly after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the UK’s decision to provide Ukraine with at least £3bn worth of military support this year. Britain’s top diplomat also celebrated the release of a delayed $60bn aid package by the US Congress.
However, Cameron did not give a straight answer when asked how he thought the possible re-election of Republican Party leader Donald Trump to the White House could affect US support for Ukraine.
It’s not for us to decide who the Americans choose as their president – we will work with whoever that is.
The Foreign Secretary has separately confirmed a £36-million energy support package for Ukraine. It includes new emergency funding of £20 million for Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
In its latest arms shipment to Kyiv, the UK included precision-guided bombs, missiles and equipment for 100 mobile air defence teams to “enable Ukraine to shoot down Russia’s drones and missiles.”
The visit came amid reports by The Independent that Ukrainian troops were increasingly retreating as the Russian army stepped up its offensive that spring. Shortages of men and ammunition forced Ukrainian soldiers to retreat from one village after another, with as many as three surrendering on Sunday.
A senior Ukrainian military official stated on Thursday that the situation on the front line in eastern Ukraine was deteriorating. However, he claimed that local defenders were firmly resisting the Russian military’s concerted offensive.
