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The Foreign Secretary, David聽Cameron,聽has travelled to聽Kyiv for his first overseas visit to聽underline the UK鈥檚聽steadfast support for聽Ukraine against Russia鈥檚 aggression.聽

In Kyiv,聽Foreign Secretary David Cameron met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Foreign Minister Kuleba,聽telling them his support for the country was enduring, as it had been when he was Prime Minister.聽

David Cameron spearheaded the start of Op Orbital in 2015聽as Prime Minister, launching the major British Army training programme in Ukraine, which drilled and upskilled more than 22,000 soldiers. The programme was paused last year during Russia鈥檚 full scale invasion, and replaced by Op Interflex, which is based in the UK.

The Foreign Secretary聽also heard how Ukraine continues to make progress pushing back Russian forces, including in Topoli and heard how Ukraine continues to make remarkable progress in the Black Sea to drive the聽Russian聽Navy聽eastwards.

As part of the visit,聽the聽Foreign Secretary聽welcomed聽the聽launch of the聽new 鈥楿nity Facility鈥櫬燽etween UK company Marsh McLennan聽and the Ukrainian Government,聽which will provide affordable shipping insurance聽for聽grain and other critical food supplies globally from Ukraine鈥檚 Black Sea ports.

The facility delivers on聽a pledge made at the聽Ukraine Recovery Conference in London in June, where聽Marsh McLennan committed to provide services to the Ukrainian government pro-bono.

Foreign Secretary David Cameron聽said:

As Foreign Secretary, supporting Ukraine against Putin鈥檚 aggression is vital, which is why I am pleased聽to make this my first visit as Secretary of State.聽

Russia聽thinks聽it聽can wait this聽war聽out,聽and that the West will eventually turn its attention elsewhere. This could not be further from the truth. In my first discussions with聽President Zelenskyy in my new role, I made clear that the聽UK聽and our partners聽will support Ukraine and its people聽for as long as it takes聽for them to achieve victory.

As winter approaches, we continue to stand with the聽Ukrainian people as they resist Putin鈥檚 illegal invasion.聽In the last 3 months,聽they have pushed Russia back in the Black Sea聽and are opening vital sea trade routes for the Ukrainian economy and global food supplies.聽

The Foreign Secretary also discussed Ukraine鈥檚聽NATO aspirations聽with Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna. The UK聽is clear that Ukraine鈥檚 rightful place is in NATO and is working with Allies to smooth the path to Ukraine鈥檚 accession by removing the need for a Membership Action Plan.

The UK is the second largest donor of military assistance to Ukraine, committing 拢4.6 billion to the country so far,聽and聽most recently announcing a 拢100 million package that will assist聽Ukraine鈥檚聽armed forces to clear minefields, maintain its vehicles and shore up defensive fortifications to protect critical national infrastructure.

This month聽UK marks聽the 30,000th Ukrainian soldier to be trained under Operation Interflex, the largest military training programme of its kind on British soil since the Second World War. The programme has proved game-changing for Ukraine鈥檚 forces and was first rolled out in Ukraine under聽David聽Cameron鈥檚 leadership in 2015.

The Foreign Secretary聽also聽held talks on Ukraine鈥檚 recovery and reconstruction聽with Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.聽The UK is聽working聽closely聽with Ukraine on its reconstruction, having hosted the Ukraine Recovery Conference in June 2023,聽which saw聽more than聽$60 billion being raised towards recovery efforts, including 拢240 million in bilateral assistance from the UK.

The Foreign Secretary聽also visited Unit City, an innovation聽and technology聽hub in Kyiv, where he met young entrepreneurs聽building the future of Ukraine鈥檚 economy.

Background

• Ukraine鈥檚 Ministry of Digital Transformation and its tech sector are playing a crucial role in winning the military campaign, notably through drone technology. They are also crucial for other aspects of the war effort and for winning the peace 鈥� through their contribution to economic resilience, innovative delivery of public services, and reform

• Unit City aims聽to create a modern city for the future within Kyiv, that promotes innovative entrepreneurship and research, aiming to create Ukrainian start-up companies that are successful in the global market

• the Ukraine tech sector grew rapidly and emerged as a player in the global IT industry before the full-scale invasion. It has shown tremendous resilience thanks to its relative mobility and Ukrainian talent