The Prime Minister will travel to Switzerland today to reiterate
the UK's support for Ukraine, as the first leader level peace
summit focused on the future of the country gets underway.
More than 50 heads of state and governments are expected to
attend the summit near Lucerne, making it the largest world
leader gathering solely focused on Ukraine since the invasion
began.
Speaking at the summit this evening, the Prime Minister will say:
“Those who aid Russia by providing the weapons of war, or
components for those weapons should look at this summit today.
They should look at Bucha, Mariupol, Kharkiv, and they should
reflect on the choice they have made.
“They are placing themselves on the side of the aggressor – and
on the wrong side of history. Putin has no interest in a genuine
peace. He has launched a sustained diplomatic campaign against
this summit ordering countries to stay away, spinning a phoney
narrative about his willingness to negotiate.
“We should ask Russia why they feel so threatened by a summit
discussing the basic principles of territorial integrity, food
security and nuclear safety.
He will add:
“From a position of strength, we must work with President
Zelenskyy to set out the principles for a just and lasting peace,
based on international law and the UN Charter.
“That is the path to a permanent cessation of hostilities. It
will show Ukraine that we'll stand by them when they are ready
for negotiations.
“And it will show Putin's allies in North Korea, Iran and
elsewhere that we will protect the right of all nations to
determine their own future.”
While at the summit, the Prime Minister is expected to meet
President Zelenskyy to reiterate the UK's support for Ukraine,
including ensuring any future peace deal is sustainable, and
crucially, on Ukraine's terms.
The summit follows the meeting of the G7 in Italy this week,
where the UK, alongside G7 partners, announced 50 new sanctions
designations and specifications to degrade Putin's war machine,
and committed to providing £242m in bilateral assistance to
Ukraine, to support immediate humanitarian, energy and
stabilisation needs.
The UK also agreed with the G7 to provide a new loan for Ukraine
worth $50bn, which will be repaid by the extraordinary revenues
that come from the frozen assets of Russia's central bank, both
in Europe and around the world.
National Security Advisor Sir Tim Barrow is also expected to
attend the two-day Swiss summit.
