Britain’s Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer invited Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky to a meeting with his Cabinet ministers on Friday, July 19. The meeting followed a forum of European leaders at Blenheim Palace, underscoring Starmer‘s attempt to underline the new Labour government’s commitment to the Ukraine war by inviting Zelensky to address his ministers, the first foreign leader to do so since President Bill Clinton in 1997.
Zelensky’s visit coincides with the launch of a new initiative aimed at disrupting Russia‘s ‘shadow fleet’ of about 600 oil tankers used to circumvent sanctions.
“I won’t allow Russia’s shadow fleet of oil tankers, and the dirty money it generates, to flow freely through European waters and put our security at risk,” Starmer said, adding: “Ukraine is, and always will be, at the heart of my government’s agenda.”
The Defence Export Support Treaty, to be signed by defense ministers, will provide Ukraine access to 3.5 billion pounds ($4.5 billion) in export finance to boost defense production.
Last week at NATO, Starmer reaffirmed a commitment, initiated by his predecessor Rishi Sunak, to provide 3 billion pounds annually in military support to Ukraine until at least 2030-31, and potentially beyond.
Meanwhile, in America, former Conservative prime minister Boris Johnson met with former President Donald J. Trump at the RNC to lobby for more support for Ukraine.