In his surprise visit to Kyiv, Rishi Sunak had two pieces of good news for Ukrainians: another £2.5 billion in military aid and an agreement to sign a bilateral defence deal. Ukraine isn’t going to join Nato any time soon, so the country’s leader Volodymyr Zelensky has been trying to build a next-best alternative: a series of deals with allies. Britain is the first.
The UK says it will provide intelligence sharing, cyber security, medical and military training and defence industrial cooperation. And post-war, if Ukraine is ever attacked by Russia again, the UK will agree to provide ‘swift and sustained’ assistance. The Ukrainian government has been negotiating such agreements with 30 other countries; Sunak’s decision to sign a deal – which he confirmed as he met Zelensky in his presidential palace this afternoon – could potentially set a trend. The agreement lasts ten years and is extendable. If Ukraine joins Nato before the term ends, security obligations will transfer to Nato.
Sunak is well-regarded in Ukraine
The Prime Minister is well-regarded in Ukraine and the £2.5
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