U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak traveled to Kyiv on Friday to unveil a new support package for Ukraine, including an increase in military funding for its war with Russia that after 22 months shows no sign of ending.
Sunak’s visit came hours after the British and U.S. militaries bombed Yemen, hitting more than a dozen sites used by the Iranian-backed Houthis.
Sunak’s visit came hours after the British and U.S. militaries bombed Yemen, hitting more than a dozen sites used by the Iranian-backed Houthis.
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NewsTranscript
00:00 Well, over the last month we've seen a significant increase in the number of
00:04 Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea. That's putting innocent
00:09 lives at risk, it's disrupting the global economy and it's also destabilising the
00:16 region and in that time we've also seen the single biggest attack on a Navy
00:20 warship, a British Navy warship, that we've seen in decades. Now it's clear
00:24 that that type of behaviour can't carry on, that's why we joined with allies in
00:29 issuing very public condemnation of this behaviour and it's why I made the
00:33 decision with allies to take what I believe to be necessary, proportionate
00:36 and targeted action against military targets to degrade and disrupt Houthi
00:41 capability. We won't hesitate to protect lives and ensure the safety of
00:46 commercial shipping. Well, we've carried out a series of strikes together with
00:49 allies which will, we believe, degrade and disrupt the capability. The types of
00:54 things that we've targeted are launch sites for missiles and for drones. Initial
00:59 indications are that those strikes have been successful, we'll continue to monitor
01:03 the situation but it's clear that this type of behaviour can't be met without a
01:08 response. We need to send a strong signal that this breach of international law is
01:12 wrong, people can't act like this with impunity and that's why together with
01:16 allies we've decided to take this action. Well, our aim is very clear, it's to
01:20 de-escalate tensions and to restore stability to the region and that's why
01:26 allies over the past few weeks have issued several statements of
01:29 condemnation of what's happening, calling on the Houthis to desist. Indeed, just
01:33 this week we've seen a UN Security Council resolution condemning what's
01:38 happening and saying that states have a right to self-defence. We have acted in
01:41 self-defence, it's incumbent now on the Houthis to stop carrying out these
01:45 attacks, putting people's lives at risk and disrupting the global economy which
01:49 will also have a damaging impact on people's shopping and their day-to-day
01:54 shopping when they go about their lives. That's not right, we've seen the
01:57 disruption that that's brought over the past year or two with the situation in
02:00 Russia and Ukraine, we don't want to see that happen again and that's why it's
02:03 right that we've taken action. We are one of Ukraine's most significant
02:07 supporters, particularly when it comes to providing military aid. I'm pleased to be
02:12 here today to announce an increase in the aid that we're providing. The aid
02:16 that we've got in place already runs through to the early part of this year
02:20 so we're acting in advance of that expiring with a new commitment of two
02:23 and a half billion pounds, more than we've provided in previous years, that
02:26 represents the seriousness of the situation here and our determination to
02:29 stand with Ukraine and that's why I'm here on my first foreign visit of this
02:33 year, the first foreign leader to visit Ukraine this year. I want to send a strong
02:37 signal of support to the Ukrainian people but also a strong signal of
02:41 support that Vladimir Putin needs to recognise we're not going anywhere, I'm
02:45 I'm here with one clear message, the United Kingdom stands with Ukraine.