Foreign Secretary urges international support to Ukraine for as long as it takes
James Cleverly addresses the UN Security Council in New York, calling on international partners to support Ukraine, 1 year on since Russia's illegal invasion.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly speaking with the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in New York.
- the Foreign Secretary will address the UN Security Council today urging allies to support Ukraine for as long as it takes, 1 year on from Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion
- he will also meet with key allies including Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and the United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres
- the UK and 140 other countries voted on a UN resolution underscoring the need for Ukraine to secure a sustainable, just peace
The UK will urge the international community to give the Ukrainian people the tools they need to win at a special session of the UN Security Council today [Friday 24 February], 1 year on from Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly is expected to say:
One year into this terrible war, let us send this clear message: our support for Ukraine is not, and will never be, time-limited. We will keep the promises we made to the UN Charter and the Ukrainian people. And will give the Ukrainians all the help they need. For as long as it takes. Until Ukraine prevails.
Russia’s continued targeting of Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure, and key agricultural infrastructure, including grain silos, has significantly disrupted Ukraine’s food exports. This has directly exacerbated the increase in global food prices, hitting the poorest the hardest.
Today’s UNSC meeting follows a vote in the United Nations General Assembly yesterday, in which 141 countries voted in favour of a resolution underscoring “the need to reach, as soon as possible, a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in line with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.
Read the Foreign Secretary’s speech in full.
The vote highlights how from food and fertiliser shortages to Russia’s escalatory language on nuclear escalation, Putin’s actions have worldwide repercussions beyond Ukraine.
Following the vote, the Foreign Secretary said:
When Putin invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022, he expected his brutal assault to succeed and international support to crumble within weeks. He has been proven gravely wrong.
Twelve months on, yesterday’s vote is testament to the infinite resolve of the international community that Ukraine will win the war, end Russia’s threat to Ukraine’s sovereignty, and forge a sustainable peace.
Ukraine is turning the tide and Putin is losing. One year into this terrible war, our support will continue for as long as it takes.
As Ukraine enters its second year living under a full-scale Russian bombardment, the UK will continue to work with its international allies to secure a just and lasting peace which respects Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty and defends the UN Charter.
While in New York, the Foreign Secretary will meet his Ukrainian counterpart, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, and United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, to discuss accelerating UK support to Ukraine, establishing a lasting peace and the road to economic stability.
Later today, a national minute’s silence will take place at 11am today to mark the 1-year anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, offering the UK public a moment to reflect on the courage of the Ukrainian people and demonstrating the UK’s unwavering solidarity with the country.
Background
In the last year the UK has been a leading supporter of Ukraine:
- the UK provided £2.3 billion in military support to Ukraine in 2022, more than any country other than the United States, and has already committed to sustain that level of military support into 2023
- the UK is a leading bilateral humanitarian donor, having committed £220 million in assistance. Funding includes £109 million to the UN, £33 million to the Red Cross, £50 million to NGOs, and £8.4 million in in-kind assistance. The UK have also supported the Disasters Emergency Committee, UNHCR and UNICEF. The UK has helped the response reach 13.4 million people to date
- we have introduced the largest and most severe package of sanctions ever imposed on Russia or indeed any major economy. We have now sanctioned almost 1,300 individuals and over 130 entities since Putin’s invasion of Ukraine
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