UK premier calls for 'doubling down' on military support for Ukraine

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Saturday said that it is time to accelerate military support to Ukraine.

"To win the war, Ukraine needs more artillery, armored vehicles and air defense. So now is the moment to double down on our military support," Sunak said at the Munich Security Conference.

He highlighted that they need a military strategy for Ukraine to "gain a decisive advantage" on the battlefield to win the war, and a political strategy to win the peace.

Sunak said that when the war on Ukraine started last February, Russian President Vladimir Putin "gambled that our resolve will falter."

"But we proved him wrong and we will prove him wrong now," he added.

Sunak reiterated that Ukraine cities "must be protected from Russian bombs and Iranian drones."

He said: “And it’s why we’re working with our allies to give Ukraine the most advanced air defence systems, and build the air force they need to defend their nation.

“Now of course, the UK stands ready to help any country, provide planes that Ukraine can use today.”

However, he noted that this requires training of Ukrainian pilots to use “the most advanced jets, and that’s exactly what Britain is doing.”

"What's at stake in this war is even greater than the security and sovereignty of one nation. It's about the security and sovereignty of every nation," Sunak said.

- 'Grain deal is great sign of international cooperation'

To a question, the prime minister reminded the grain corridor in the Black Sea and hailed the efforts to attain the grain deal.

"I think it's been a great sign of international cooperation led by the UN. Turkey played an important role in ensuring that the Black Sea grain initiative has been successful," he noted.

Sunak also highlighted the need for the renewal of the deal in March to provide food to the poor people in the world.

Last July, Türkiye, the UN, Russia, and Ukraine signed an agreement in Istanbul to resume grain exports from three Ukrainian Black Sea ports which were paused after the war that began in February 2022.

Days before its scheduled expiration, the landmark grain deal was extended for another 120 days, beginning on Nov. 19.

Russia launched its war on Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022.