New British Defense Minister Meets Zelenskyy in Kyiv on First Visit to Ukraine
The new British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps has met Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy during his first visit to Kyiv following his appointment in August 2023. During their meeting he reassured the Ukrainian Premier about the UK’s commitment to supporting the country in their fight against Russia. Shapps also met with his Ukrainian counterpart Rutem Umerov. The UK has provided £2.3 billion ($2.8 billion) in aid to Ukraine so far.
Discussing the UK’s aid to Ukraine Shapps said: “We have trained tens of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers, delivered hundreds of thousands of rounds of ammunition,” continuing by noting that the UK has also “provided millions of pounds of economic and humanitarian aid to help Ukraine’s citizens reclaim and rebuild what has been taken from them by Putin’s barbaric invasion.”
Shapps also detailed the plight of the Ukrainian people and that he had hosted a Ukrainian family in his own home and that he had welcomed being able to further speak with Umerov after initially meeting with him during a meeting of the Ukrainian Defense Group Committee last month. President Zelenskyy’s press office thanked Shapps and the UK for their saying: “On behalf of the whole nation, I thank you for everything you are doing for us. We are grateful for your help – military, financial, humanitarian. We greatly appreciate that we can rely on you.”
The pair also spoke about bolstering Ukraines air defences, the UK has already provided Martlet and Starstreak MANPADS as well as having supplied Storm Shadow cruise missiles allowing the country to strike targets within Russian controlled territory. Umerov posted on X, “Briefed on current battlefield situation and urgent needs. Focus on air defence, artillery, anti-drone systems. Winter is coming but we are ready. Stronger together.”
Shapps also added that “As Ukraine retakes its territory, UK support remains unwavering. We will work tirelessly to bring our partners together to help Ukraine defeat Putin’s illegal invasion. Slava Ukraini’.”
The UK’s Chief of the Defence Staff, Admiral Tony Radakin, also accompanied Shapps, posting on social media following meetings with Ukrainain counterparts Radakin said that “this visit, together with my visits over the summer, have reinforced my belief that Ukraine will prevail. Britain will be with them every step of the way.”