Rachel Reeves has signed a £2.26 billion mortgage settlement with Ukraine to bolster its army capabilities towards Russian aggression.
The mortgage settlement was signed throughout a digital ceremony between Reeves and Ukrainian Finance Minister Sergii Marchenko throughout Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's go to to No10 at the moment.
The mortgage will probably be repaid with income generated from immobilised Russian sovereign belongings.
Sir Keir Starmer advised Zelensky at the moment: "You have got full backing throughout the UK".
London described the settlement as an indication of "our unwavering and ongoing help for the Ukrainian folks".
The funds are particularly earmarked to help Ukraine's defence capabilities because the struggle continues.
This represents some of the substantial monetary commitments from Britain to Ukraine for the reason that battle started.
Reeves is now urging different European leaders to comply with Britain's instance in supporting Ukraine.
One other important step in strengthening Ukraine’s #protection capabilities. Along with President @ZelenskyyUa and PM @Keir_Starmer , we signed £2.26bn settlement with @hmtreasury @RachelReevesMP for🇺🇦army wants. These funds are ensured by the russian frozen belongings.… pic.twitter.com/Zj2BxQmYRl
— Sergii Marchenko (@SergiiMarchenk3) March 1, 2025
"The world has modified, and we have now to maintain up with that and we have now to answer that," Reeves declared.
"The significance of exhausting energy, of securing our defence, is clearly extra necessary at the moment than it has been for a very long time."
Zelensky's London go to noticed him obtain "full backing" from PM Starmer.
Talking inside Downing Avenue, the Prime Minister advised the Ukrainian President: "Let me simply say that you simply’re very, very welcome right here in Downing Avenue.
"And as you heard from the cheers on the road exterior, you’ve gotten full backing throughout the UK, and we stand with you, with Ukraine, for so long as it could take.
"I hope you heard a few of that cheering on the road.
"That’s the folks of the UK popping out to show how a lot they help you, how a lot they help Ukraine, and our absolute willpower to face with you unwavering willpower and to attain what we each wish to obtain, which is an enduring peace.
"A long-lasting peace for Ukraine primarily based on sovereignty and safety for Ukraine so necessary for Ukraine, so necessary for Europe and so necessary for the UK.
"So I’m a lot wanting ahead to our discussions right here this afternoon thanks very a lot for making the time to come back."
The nice and cozy phrases of the PM stood in stark distinction to his tense assembly with US President Trump simply 24 hours earlier.
The White Home assembly descended right into a heated trade that was broadcast worldwide.
Trump and Vice President JD Vance reportedly lectured Zelensky over what they perceived as an absence of gratitude for earlier US help.
"You're playing with hundreds of thousands of individuals… You're playing with World Warfare 3," Trump advised Zelensky.
Regardless of the lashing, Zelensky expressed gratitude for worldwide help in a sequence of posts on social media.
"Our relationship with the American President is extra than simply two leaders: It's a historic and stable bond between our peoples," he wrote.