In advance of her speech at the UN General Assembly, British Prime Minister Liz Truss will use her first overseas trip to commit billions of additional pounds of support for Ukraine in the coming year, according to her office.
In addition to speaking at the U.N. on Wednesday, Truss believes that her visit to New York will improve relations with the United States, which have deteriorated due to post-Brexit trade.
In a reaffirmation of her support for Kyiv following Russia’s invasion, Truss will promise at the U.N. summit to match or exceed in 2023 the 2.3 billion pounds ($2.6 billion) in military aid given to Ukraine in 2022. Additionally, she will promise to work to reduce Europe’s reliance on Moscow for energy.
Following what she called provocations over Taiwan, Truss promised to address “the strategic danger posed by China” in a meeting with her Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida on Tuesday, according to a Downing Street spokesperson.
China asserts Taiwan as its own territory and has never disavowed using force to annex the island. Taiwan, which is democratically governed, vehemently rejects China’s claims to sovereignty.
The newly appointed leader, who also met with French President Emmanuel Macron, emphasized to Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda Britain’s support in the Baltic country’s ongoing trade fight with China.
Truss left mere hours after Queen Elizabeth’s funeral, marking the beginning of a bustling return to British politics that had been all but suspended during the period of mourning for the monarch.
For Britain’s new prime minister, it’s the beginning of a busy week that will see the release of some long-awaited tax cuts, a much-needed plan to strengthen the National Health Service, and a new energy support package for businesses.
The British prime minister will once more express her support for Ukraine in New York, where she will meet with Biden on Wednesday. According to Truss, Ukraine was able to fight back Russian soldiers with the help of Western military assistance.
In an interview with the BBC on Tuesday, Truss said, “We cannot see Russia prosper, but we also make need to ensure we’re more energy independent, and we’re less dependent on those totalitarian regimes.”
Economic security is important, but so is economic progress.
Britain, the second-largest military donor to Ukraine, stated that its assistance for the upcoming year would depend on the demands of the Ukrainian army, however it is anticipated to include tools like rocket artillery systems.
Truss has to “bring the U.K. back in from the cold and start rebuilding our country’s diplomatic influence,” according to David Lammy, head of foreign policy for the main opposition Labour Party.
