Zelensky begs ‘great liberators’ Britain to continue Ukraine support after Sunak threat

His plea comes amid fears that the new Prime Minister may be about to cut spending for Kyiv.

By John Varga

09:42, Sun, Dec 18, 2022 | UPDATED: 10:00, Sun, Dec 18, 2022

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Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Rikshi Sunak to maintain Britain’s level of funding for Ukraine’s war effort and not to abandon his country in its hour of need. His plea comes amid fears that the new Prime Minister may be about to cut spending for Kyiv. According to BBC Newsnight, Mr Sunak has ordered an internal data-driven audit to assess the progress of the war and the significance of the UK’s military contributions to Ukraine.

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This has led some senior Whitehall mandarins to fear that the PM may be pivoting to an overly cautious approach to the war.

A Whitehall source said the Ukraine President had “sensed what is going on” and has redoubled his efforts to convince Mr Sunak to stay the course.

The source told the BCC: “So he has been talking to Rishi.

He is trying to inspire him, saying the UK are the great liberators, the great fighters.

“We need you. Rise to that.”

Downing Street has moved quickly to deny that the British Government’s support for Kyiv is waivwring in any sense at all.

“You are the liberators!” (Image: Getty)

Rishi Sunak with President Zelensky on a recent trip to Kyiv (Image: Rishi Sunak Twitter)

A No 10 official said: “His support for Ukraine is unwavering and it is not true that he is taking a more cautious approach.”

Moreover, defence sources told the Daily Telegraph that Mr Sunak was not “going soft at all”.

Britain is currently the second biggest provider of military aid to Ukraine.

According to a House of Commons report published on December 12, the UK has committed £2.3 billion in military assistance so far.

The British Government has also pledged to match that total in 2023.

The US is the largest provider of weapons and financial assistance to the war-torn country.