- PM to journey to Poland and Germany to cement safety, commerce and diplomatic ties with key European allies
- He’s anticipated to announce a £500 million enhance for Ukraine and largest-ever provision of important munitions, together with some 400 automobiles, 1,600 munitions and 4 million rounds of ammunition
- PM to debate the risk from Russia and UK efforts to help European safety with Prime Minister Tusk and the Nato Secretary-Basic in Warsaw
The Prime Minister will journey to Poland right now [Tuesday 23 April] to announce a large uplift in army help for Ukraine, together with £500 million in extra army funding and our largest-ever supply of important gear.
He’ll meet Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk to debate deepening UK-Poland relations, and the leaders will maintain talks with NATO Secretary-Basic Jens Stoltenberg in Warsaw on European safety and help to Ukraine. The Prime Minister will then journey on to Germany to fulfill Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin.
Ukraine is dealing with an existential risk as Russia continues its barbaric invasion, risking the safety and stability of all of Europe.
The £500 million extra funding introduced right now – which takes us to £3 billion in UK army help for Ukraine this monetary 12 months – might be used to quickly ship urgently-needed ammunition, air defence, drones and engineering help. The drones might be procured within the UK and the funds will help a scale-up in home defence provide chains.
The Ministry of Defence will even ship our largest-ever single package deal of kit from the UK, designed to assist push again the Russian invasion on land, sea and air. It contains:
- 60 boats together with offshore raiding craft, inflexible raiding craft and dive boats in addition to maritime weapons
- Greater than 1,600 strike and air defence missiles, in addition to extra Storm Shadow long-range precision-guided missiles.
- Greater than 400 automobiles, together with 160 protected mobility ‘Husky’ automobiles, 162 armoured automobiles and 78 all-terrain automobiles.
- Almost 4 million rounds of small arms ammunition.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated:
“Defending Ukraine in opposition to Russia’s brutal ambitions is important for our safety and for all of Europe. If Putin is allowed to achieve this struggle of aggression, he is not going to cease on the Polish border.
“I’m in Warsaw right now to deepen ties with our Polish companions and commit crucial new army help for Ukraine’s defence. Ukraine’s armed forces proceed to battle bravely, however they want our help – and so they want it now. At the moment’s package deal will assist guarantee Ukraine has what they should take the battle to Russia.
“The UK will all the time play its half on the forefront of European safety, defending our nationwide curiosity and standing by our Nato allies.”
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps stated:
“This report package deal of army help will give President Zelenskyy and his courageous nation extra of the package they should kick Putin out and restore peace and stability in Europe.
“The UK was the primary to supply NLAW missiles, the primary to provide fashionable tanks and the primary to ship long-range missiles.
“Now, we’re going even additional. We are going to by no means let the world overlook the existential battle Ukraine is preventing, and with our enduring help, they’ll win.”
In his first in-person assembly with new Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, the Prime Minister will even search to deepen UK-Poland ties throughout a spread of points.
Constructing on current sturdy defence and safety cooperation, he’ll supply to deploy an RAF Hurricane Squadron to hold out Nato Air Policing over Poland subsequent 12 months.
To additional enhance commerce and help UK corporations trying to spend money on Poland, the Prime Minister will even announce right now an intention to triple UK Export Finance funding out there for Poland from £5 billion to £15 billion – our most beneficiant supply to a associate nation so far.
Bilateral commerce between the UK and Poland has doubled within the final decade to achieve £30.6 billion, with 45 million bottles of Scotch whisky purchased in Poland final 12 months and UK companies bidding for £5 billion value of Polish alternatives throughout power, defence, healthcare, and infrastructure.
