During his second trip to Kyiv, James Cleverly assured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of the UK’s support.
The gathering in the capital of the country was held amid indications that the anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive against the Russian invasion may have begun.
According to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the Foreign Secretary met with Mr. Zelensky and Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba to explore how the UK can best continue to support Ukraine, from the battlefield to bank guarantees.
Later in June, the UK will hold a conference in London on the resurgence of the Ukrainian economy.
In a video posted to Mr Zelensky’s Facebook page, Mr Cleverly is heard saying that the UK “will continue backing you and your country until you are victorious”.
The Ukrainian president expresses gratitude to the UK for its “big support” of his nation.
He wrote on Facebook: “During the meeting, we discussed important topical issues: Ukraine’s expectations from the Nato Summit in Vilnius, promotion of the Ukrainian peace formula and preparation of the global summit on its implementation, as well as the London international conference on the reconstruction of Ukraine.
“We are very grateful for the support that the UK has provided and continues to provide to Ukraine.”
Kyiv has long sought for Ukraine to be admitted to Nato, but as the war with Russia rages on, allies disagree as to when and how such admission may take place.
At a gathering of European leaders in Moldova last week, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated that Ukraine’s “rightful place” is in NATO in advance of the crucial Nato summit in Lithuania in July.
The Foreign Secretary is heard discussing his previous visit to Ukraine in November of last year, when “it was cold and it was dark,” in a video from Kyiv.
“But this time I can see there’s more life in the city. The traffic is heavier, which normally is a bad sign in a city. But I think for me it demonstrates what I mean to be true.
“And that is that the Ukrainian people are not going to allow themselves to be broken by this.”
He added: “The sunshine and the leaves and the flowers shouldn’t distract us from the fact that there is still very much work to be done.
“When we made the commitment publicly that we will continue backing you and your country until you are victorious in your self-defence, we meant it. When we said that we would do more and go further, we meant it.”
In recent weeks, Russia has continued to pound the Ukrainian capital and other regions of the nation, despite Kyiv’s preparations for what it claims will be a counteroffensive to drive Moscow’s forces back 15 months after their full-scale invasion.
The accusations made by Moscow officials that Ukraine’s military have intensified their attempts to break past Russian defenses in the southeast of the country have not been corroborated by Ukraine.
Mr. Cleverly also visited children who were forcibly moved to Russia during his visit and heard some survivors’ testimonies in a facility supporting their return to Ukraine, according to the FCDO.
“I was able to see for myself the true horrors and devastation of what Russia has wreaked on this sovereign state,” the Cabinet minister said in a statement.
