UK shows enduring commitment to Ukraine at G7 summit
The Prime Minister will be clear that the UK will lead from the front on supporting international peace and security as he attends the G7 Leaders Summit in Italy against a backdrop of heightened volatility.
- Support for Ukraine and securing peace in the Middle East priorities at G7 Leaders Summit.聽聽
- UK provides package of up to 拢242m funding for immediate humanitarian, energy and stabilisation needs in Ukraine. 聽聽
- Leaders seek to leverage billions from immobilised Russian assets to support Ukraine. 聽聽
The Prime Minister will be聽clear that the UK will lead from the front on supporting international peace and security as he attends the G7 Leaders Summit in Italy against a backdrop of heightened volatility. 聽聽聽
At the Summit, the Prime Minister will聽announce up to 拢242 million in bilateral assistance to Ukraine, to support immediate humanitarian, energy and stabilisation needs, and lay the foundations for longer term economic and social recovery and reconstruction.聽聽
This funding demonstrates the UK鈥檚 continued international solidarity with Ukraine, and our flexibility in responding to immediate needs created by Russian aggression. Critical energy infrastructure, for example, has suffered from an intense Russian missile and bombing campaign over the past few months.聽聽
A priority for the PM at the Summit will be to work with partners to agree a way to use immobilised Russian assets to support Ukraine. Last month, the Chancellor attended the G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting, where the G7 discussed potential avenues to bring forward the extraordinary profits stemming from these assets, to the benefit of Ukraine.聽聽聽聽聽
The UK and G7 leaders have been clear that Russian must pay for the damage it is causing Ukraine.聽We will聽explore all lawful avenues by which immobilised Russian assets聽can聽be used to support聽Ukraine.聽The value of the assets held in G7 jurisdictions is聽$285 billion.聽
The UK was the first country to introduce legislation explicitly enabling us to keep sanctions in place until Russia pays for damage it has caused. We also introduced new powers to compel sanctioned individuals and entities to disclose assets they hold in the UK.聽
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:聽聽
We must be decisive and creative in our efforts to support Ukraine and end Putin鈥檚 illegal war at this critical moment. The UK remains at the forefront of the international response as we have been from the outset. We must move from 鈥榓s long as it takes鈥� to 鈥榳hatever it takes鈥� if we are to end this illegal war.聽
From Ukraine to the Middle East, we will be discussing significant global threats at the Summit. Such threats are why it is so vital to strengthen the UK鈥檚 national defence, through our commitment to spend 2.5% of GDP on defence by 2030.
The UK has now committed almost 拢12.7 billion in military, humanitarian and economic support to Ukraine and has often been the first mover on vital lethal aid, from Storm Shadow cruise missiles to a squadron of Challenger 2 tanks. 聽聽
The Prime Minister recently announced that the UK will send our largest-ever package of military equipment from the UK, designed to help push back the Russian invasion on land, sea and air.聽
While at the summit, he will attend sessions on Ukraine; Illegal Migration; Economic Security and China; The Middle East; and a credible G7 and UK offer to 鈥榯he global majority鈥�. 聽聽
The Prime Minister will work to encourage G7 unity in response to the situation on the ground in Gaza, focused on the long-term goal of a stable and prosperous Middle East. 聽聽
He will press other leaders to recognise migration challenges 鈥榓cross the route鈥� and to take collective action.聽聽
He will also seek to strengthen our economic security in relation to China and work collaboratively with partners to identify ways to ensure we leverage the revolution in green technologies for the benefit of the British people and our industries.