Britain intends to fund necessary repairs to the Chernobyl power plant that was bombed in a Russian drone attack, while Prime Minister Andy Burnham seeks to strengthen support for Ukraine, according to what was published by the German News Agency.
The United Kingdom will provide 17 million pounds ($22.5 million) to help restore its protective armor and ventilation system, which were damaged in an attack last year, amid fears that corrosion could cause long-term environmental and security risks, according to the British news agency (PA Media).
Chancellor of the Exchequer, John Healey, said the government's commitment to the Ukrainian people was "unwavering" while Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said Britain would "stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine, and will do so until it wins".
The UK's funding pledge comes within the framework of a broader international program coordinated by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, in cooperation with the Ukrainian government and G7 donors.
It comes after the British Prime Minister hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Downing Street yesterday (Wednesday), when he told Zelensky that the United Kingdom “supports you, and this will not change.”
Russian forces launched a massive attack on energy infrastructure in and around the Ukrainian capital and other Ukrainian cities, in what appeared to be a disregard for the “energy truce” announced earlier by US President Donald Trump, and Moscow did not confirm its commitment to it.
Kiev directed harsh criticism at Washington, accusing it of “helping Russia in its war” against the backdrop of a decline in intelligence support, despite the US administration’s assertion that it had not reduced cooperation with the Ukrainians in this field. The worsening tension in American relations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was reflected in the situation on the ground on the battle fronts.
Yesterday (Wednesday), Zelensky repeated the warning that Ukraine “did not receive warnings twice about launching ballistic missiles at Kiev.” He wrote: “I informed you of the Russian strike on Kiev and that we did not receive any warning from our partners regarding the launch of the ballistic missile. “This is the second time that Ukraine has not received any warning.”
A high-ranking Ukrainian official, who preferred to remain anonymous, accused Washington of helping Russia against Ukraine, stressing that it did not warn Kiev in advance about Russian attacks, and it also slowed down “Starlink” services. The Ukrainian official added: “We have not received warnings from Washington in two cases so far about the launch of Russian ballistic missiles in a large-scale ballistic attack on the energy sector.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview on Wednesday that it was “painful” when US President Donald Trump sided with the other side in the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia, after he said that Zelensky should be replaced.
“It is painful for President Trump to choose one side... not ours,” Zelensky told Piers Morgan’s “Uncensored” program.
He also said that he did not mind Trump being in the middle between Ukraine and Russia, but added: “If you are in the middle, you have to stay in the middle.”
In response to a question about whether he felt betrayed by Trump, who over the weekend called for a new president for Ukraine, after he agreed to lift sanctions on Russian diesel exports, Zelensky replied: “Really, yes... but the matter is a little more complicated than just my emotions or my feelings.”
He added: “It is unfortunate that we are losing a strong partner.”
Zelensky also said: “We are not selling our country... It is not about business for us. "It's just our life, this is our country."
