Rishi Sunak rallies European allies to send more support to Kyiv as Ukraine war rumbles on 

Rishi Sunak will today call on European allies to exceed this year’s level of support for Ukraine in 2023 as the UK pledges hundreds of thousands of new ammunition rounds to Kyiv.

The Prime Minister, who is in Latvia to meet other members of the UK Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), will announce a £250million contract that will ensure a constant flow of critical artillery ammunition to Ukraine throughout next year.

The summit will bring together the leaders of Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Sweden and the UK, with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenksy set to address the heads of state. 

Mr Sunak said: ‘The UK and our European allies have been in lockstep in our response to the invasion of Ukraine, and we remain steadfast in our ambition for peace in Europe once again. But to achieve peace, we must deter aggression and our deployments across the region together are vital in ensuring we are able to respond to the gravest of threats.

The Prime Minister will announce a £250million contract that will ensure a constant flow of critical artillery ammunition to Ukraine throughout next year 

‘I know this Joint Expeditionary Force summit will only underline our close friendship and unwavering support for Ukraine.’ The UK remains one of the leading backers of Kyiv’s military efforts against Russian forces, providing more than 100,000 rounds of ammunition since February.

The Prime Minister is set to tell other JEF members to build on the global support for Ukraine in 2022 through continuing lethal aid, economic resilience and political backing.

Rishi Sunak said to the embattled nation: ‘Britain knows what it means to fight for freedom’

Leaders will discuss the defensive capabilities now needed by Mr Zelenksy’s forces, including further air defence. 

They are also expected to accelerate cooperation among JEF nations, bolster intelligence sharing, strengthen defences to hybrid threats and protect national infrastructure. 

As part of the increased collaboration, leaders will also discuss support to Finland and Sweden, which are increasingly likely to become Nato members.

There have been fears that Mr Sunak may ease up on support to Ukraine after requesting a data audit of the UK’s backing so far, though Downing Street has pushed back on such claims. 

Leaders will also discuss support to Finland and Sweden, which are increasingly likely to become Nato members

Last week one Whitehall source likened the exercise to a ‘Goldman Sachs dashboard’ and told the BBC: ‘Wars are won on instinct. At the start of this it was Boris sitting down and saying: ‘Let’s just go for this’ – so Rishi needs to channel his inner Boris on foreign policy though not of course on anything else.’

The source added that Mr Zelensky had ‘sensed what was going on’ and made a direct appeal to Mr Sunak to renew his commitment. 

After a surprise visit to the embattled nation last month, the Prime Minister said: ‘Britain knows what it means to fight for freedom.

‘We are with you all the way.’

In addition to his JEF duties, Mr Sunak will have a meeting with Latvian prime minister Krisjanis Karins before travelling to Estonia, where he will meet serving UK and Nato troops and sign a technology partnership with that country’s premier, Kaja Kallas.