Ukraine updates: UK pledges extra aid as Sunak visits Kyiv

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak have signed a security accord between the two countries in Kyiv.

Zelenskyy described it as an "unprecedented security agreement." Local media cited the Ukrainian president as saying the pact would remain in effect until Ukraine joined NATO.

Sunak's office says the deal "formalizes a range of support the UK has been and will continue to provide for Ukraine's security, including intelligence sharing, cyber security, medical and military training, and defense industrial cooperation."

Ukraine has been promised eventual NATO membership, but this is almost impossible while the country remains at war. From Kyiv's point of view, accession to the Western alliance — which has several nuclear powers among its members — would prevent Russia from continuing its aggression.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak arrived in Kyiv on Friday. His visit comes at a crucial time for Ukraine following several recent waves of intense Russian strikes and waning optimism as the war nears its two-year anniversary and US and EU military support has gotten caught up in political infighting.

"I am in Ukraine to deliver a simple message," the prime minister wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

"Our support cannot and will not falter. To all Ukrainians, Britain is with you — for as long as it takes."

Ahead of his arrival, the UK government announced it would provide Ukraine with an additional 200 million (around €232 million, $254 million) British pounds in the coming financial year to purchase thousands of drones.

The US has imposed sanctions against three Russian entities and one individual for their role in transferring and testing ballistic missiles acquired from North Korea.

The missiles were used by Russia's forces in its war against Ukraine, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

Last week, short-range ballistic missiles sourced from North Korea were used in multiple strikes against Ukraine, Washington and Kyiv reported.

North Korea's "transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia supports Russia's war of aggression, increases the suffering of the Ukrainian people, and undermines the global nonproliferation regime," Blinken said.

The UN Security Council agreed in 2006 — with Russian support — to impose an arms embargo on North Korea following its testing of a nuclear weapon.

The United Kingdom is set to increase its military support for Ukraine by an additional 200 million British pounds (€233 million/$255 million) for the next financial year.

London announced the "major new package of support" to coincide with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's trip to Kyiv on Friday.

The extra funds would bring the UK's total support for Ukraine to 2.5 billion British pounds.

"The Ministry of Defence will work with international partners to significantly scale up the number of drones provided for Ukraine's defense," the government statement said.

This would include "a major push to rapidly procure and produce thousands of military drones for Ukraine, including surveillance, long-range strike and sea drones."

Sunak is also set to sign a "historic" security cooperation pact with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

This would seek to formalize "a range of support the UK has been and will continue to provide for Ukraine's security, including intelligence sharing, cybersecurity, medical and military training, and defense industrial cooperation," according to the UK government statement.

"For two years, Ukraine has fought with great courage to repel a brutal Russian invasion," Sunak said ahead of the visit.

"I am here today with one message: the UK will also not falter. We will stand with Ukraine, in their darkest hours and in the better times to come," he added.

ab/wd (Reuters, AFP, dpa, AP)