At the G7 conference in Italy, which opens on Thursday, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is expected to offer up to £242 million in new aid for Ukraine, according to his office.
When President Volodymyr Zelensky meets with G7 leaders in Puglia, he is anticipated to put Ukraine at the top of the agenda, hoping to reach an agreement on using Russian assets that have been frozen to aid his war-torn nation.
According to a statement released by the prime minister’s office on Wednesday night, Sunak “will announce up to £242 million ($310 million) in bilateral assistance to Ukraine, to support immediate humanitarian, energy, and stabilization needs, and lay the foundations for longer term” recovery at the summit.
“This funding demonstrates the UK’s continued international solidarity with Ukraine, and our flexibility in responding to immediate needs created by Russian aggression,” it added, noting recent Russian strikes on energy infrastructure.
The statement added that Sunak would work with other leaders at the G7 to find a way to use frozen Russian funds to assist Ukraine.
“We must be decisive and creative in our efforts to support Ukraine and end Putin’s illegal war at this critical moment,” Sunak was quoted as saying.
