Liz Truss Talks to Zelenskyy on Phone, Accepts Invite to Visit Ukraine

UK Prime Minister Liz Truss talks to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the phone on Sept. 6, 2022. (UK Prime Minister’s Office)

Prime Minister Liz Truss has reiterated the UK’s support for Ukraine and has accepted an invitation to visit the country during a phone call with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

It was her first phone call as prime minister with a foreign leader, and took place within hours of her becoming head of the UK government.

A Downing Street spokeswoman said that Truss told the Ukrainian president on Sept. 6 that his country could count on the UK’s assistance “for the long term.”

“In her first call with a counterpart since becoming prime minister, she reiterated to the Ukrainian leader that he had her full backing, and Ukraine could depend on the UK’s assistance for the long term,” she said.

The leaders discussed measures to cut off the funds fuelling Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war machine, and “deplored Putin’s attempts to weaponise energy.”

Truss said it is “vital” that “Russia’s blackmail did not deter the West from ensuring Putin fails,” and underscored the importance of boosting energy independence of the UK and its allies.

‘Delighted’

The prime minister praised Ukraine’s “fight for sovereignty and self-determination” and said it was “essential” that Ukraine succeeds and Russia fails, the spokeswoman said.

She added that Truss was “delighted” to accept an invitation to visit Ukraine “soon.”

On his part, the Ukrainian president said he had thanked the British people for their support.

Zelenskyy wrote on Twitter: “I became the 1st foreign leader to have a conversation with the newly elected (British) PM @trussliz. Invited her to (Ukraine). Thanked (British) people for the major defense & economic aid for (Ukraine). It’s important that (Britain) is ready to further strengthen it. Attention was paid to security guarantees.

“We discussed the participation of (Britain) in the recovery of (Ukraine). Coordinated further pressure on the RF (Russian Federation). The goal is to stop the aggression & bring the perpetrators to justice. It’s important to designate the RF a terrorist state. We’ll continue active interaction in all formats.”

During her campaign to become Conservative Party leader and prime minister, Truss promised to follow Boris Johnson’s footsteps and become Ukraine’s “greatest friend.”

She said she would “commit completely to ensuring Putin fails in Ukraine and suffers a strategic defeat, and that Russia is constrained in the future.”

She said that the UK needs to work with its Western partners and “carry on providing weapons, aid, and diplomatic support” to Ukraine.

PA Media contributed to this report.