The British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on January 14.
“The leaders reflected on the current state of Russia’s war in Ukraine, with successive Ukrainian victories pushing Russian troops back and compounding their military and morale issues.They agreed on the need to seize on this moment with an acceleration of global military and diplomatic support to Ukraine,” the statement of the UK’s government says.
The British prime minister outlined the UK’s ambition to intensify support to Ukraine, including through the provision of Challenger 2 tanks and additional artillery systems.
Prime Minister Sunak and President Zelenskyy also welcomed other international commitments, including Poland’s offer to provide a company of Leopard tanks.
“The Prime Minister stressed that he and the whole UK Government would be working intensively with international partners to deliver rapidly the kind of support which will allow Ukraine to press their advantage, win this war and secure a lasting peace,” the official statement says.
Zelenskyy thanked Sunak for the decisions that would strengthen the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the battlefield.
In Twitter, the president noted that the strong support from the UK has now become “impenetrable and ready for challenges”.
“I thanked for the decisions that will not only strengthen us on the battlefield, but also send the right signal to other partners,” Zelenskyy tweeted.
Earlier, The Independent reported, citing sources, that Rishi Sunak agreed to send a squadron of tanks to Ukraine. According to unofficial reports, 4 Challenger 2 tanks will be delivered to Eastern Europe first. Later, the UK will supply another eight units of equipment.