188体育

Thank you very much 鈥� colleagues, let me start with Volodymyr and saying on this day of all days, I want to pay tribute to your leadership Volodymyr. And friends 鈥� it鈥檚 right that we mark this grim anniversary together. For three years we have been united in opposition to Russia鈥檚 barbaric invasion. And for three years we have been full of admiration for the incredible response of the Ukrainian people.

Their voices must be must at the heart of the drive for peace. And I want to be clear 鈥� I hear them. I think of the soldiers and civilians that I met in Kyiv just a few weeks ago in the ICU, in the burns unit鈥� The witnesses to the horror of Bucha鈥� The school children I met living under constant bombardment鈥� The soldiers training in the UK, bound for the frontline鈥� Their voices echo in my ears 鈥� They inform the decisions I take 鈥� and the peace that I believe we must see.

So I have a very simple, clear message today: the UK is with you. Today and every day. From His Majesty the King鈥� To the NHS workers volunteering in hospitals in Ukraine鈥� To the communities that took Ukrainian refugees to their heart. And that鈥檚 why I signed our 100-year partnership with President Zelenskyy last month - Because we believe in Ukraine鈥檚 fight today, and the country鈥檚 incredible potential to thrive in the years to come.

This is a time for unity. In this crucial moment as talks begin 鈥� we must work together to shape the outcome.

Russia does not hold all the cards in this war鈥� Because the Ukrainians have the courage to defend their country鈥� Because Russia鈥檚 economy is in trouble鈥� And because they have now lost the best of their land forces and their Black Sea Fleet in this pointless invasion. So we must increase the pressure even further to deliver an enduring peace, not just a pause in fighting. We can do that in three ways.

First, by stepping up our military support to Ukraine. The UK is doing that鈥� Providing 拢4.5bn in military aid this year 鈥� more than ever before. We鈥檙e doing more than ever to train Ukrainian troops, helping Ukraine to mobilise even further鈥� And we鈥檙e proud to have taken on the leadership of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group.

Secondly, we must keep dialling up the economic pressure鈥� To get Putin to a point where he is ready not just to talk, but to make concessions. So today we鈥檙e announcing the UK鈥檚 largest package of sanctions since the early days of the war鈥� Going after Russia鈥檚 shadow fleet鈥� And going after companies in China and elsewhere who are sending military components.
Later today I will be discussing further steps with the G7 鈥� And I am clear that the G7 should be ready to take on more risk 鈥� Including on the oil price cap鈥� Sanctioning Russia鈥檚 oil giants鈥� And going after the banks that are enabling the evasion of sanctions.

Third, we must bring our collective strength to the peace effort.
President Trump has changed the global conversation over the last few weeks. And it has created an opportunity. Now, we must get the fundamentals right.

If we want peace to endure, Ukraine must have a seat at the table鈥� And any settlement must be based on a sovereign Ukraine鈥� Backed up with strong security guarantees. The UK is ready and willing to support this with troops on the ground 鈥� With other Europeans, and with the right conditions in place.
And ultimately a US backstop will be vital to deter Russia from launching another invasion in just a few years鈥� time.

So we will do everything we can to get the best outcome for Ukraine 鈥� and for us all. Let me close with one of those voices I mentioned earlier 鈥� A patient called Petro, from the burns unit I visited in Kyiv. He said to me鈥� 鈥淚f Ukraine fails, Europe will be next.鈥� That is what鈥檚 at stake here. That is why we will always stand with Ukraine, and with our allies鈥� Against this aggression鈥� And for a just and lasting peace. Slava Ukraini.