Monitoring Desk
ISLAMABAD: The United Kingdom (UK) Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday called on Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) member countries to deliver more military assistance to Ukraine, including more air defense systems, armored vehicles, and artillery.
The UK PM urged the country leader in the UK-led joint force, who were meeting in Riga, the Latvian capital, to either “maintain or exceed” 2022 levels of aid for Ukraine through political backing and economic resilience.
“For our part in the United Kingdom, we have pledged to sustain or exceed the £2.3 billion (about $2.8 billion) in aid that the UK provided this year, and I would highly encourage and hope others around the table to do whatever they can do to continue the strong support with Ukraine,” Sunak said in a written statement following the meeting with the leaders of JEF member countries.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and changes in the security situation in the High North, North Atlantic, and Baltic Sea regions were on the coalition’s agenda.
Working since 2018, the Joint Expeditionary Force that complements NATO comprises like-minded nations Estonia, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, the UK, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, the Netherlands, and Sweden to respond rapidly to crises in Northern Europe and High North.
UK prime minister on Ukraine security
Sunak said the coalition members were some of Ukraine’s closest allies and friends, adding they would continue to support Ukraine. “We realize that their security is our security. The resolve around the table was clear today: we will continue to support and stand with Ukraine,” Sunak tweeted.
Underlining that any unilateral announcement of a ceasefire by Russia would be “completely meaningless” due to the current circumstances, UK PM said: “I think it would be a wrong call.” Such a ceasefire “would be used by Russia to reinforce their troops, to regroup, and until they have withdrawn from the conquered territory, there can and should be no meaningful negotiation,” Sunak added.
He also urged the JEF members to continue focusing on “degrading Russia’s capability to regroup and to resupply, and that means going after its supply chains and removing the international support.”
“Particularly, I’m thinking of Iran and the weapons it is currently providing to Russia, which we should be powerful about calling out as we have done in the UN,” said the British prime minister.
The UK has vowed to supply hundreds of thousands of rounds of artillery ammunition to Ukraine next year, sending multiple rocket launch systems and 125 anti-aircraft guns, said a government statement.
“We have also provided over 100,000 rounds of ammunition since February, with the deliveries directly linked to successful operations to retake territory in Ukraine,” the statement added. – XINHUA/APP
