Rachel Reeves says UK support helping Ukraine win on the battlefield and families rebuild lives

Rachel Reeves has vowed to go further and faster to support Ukraine's recovery as she visited Kyiv.

The Chancellor met families at a UK supported centre for rehabilitation of children with disabilities, as well as with Ukraine Minister of Defence Mykhailo Fedorov alongside British and Ukrainian defence companies.

In her trip to the capital, the Chancellor paid her respects to those killed during Russia ’s illegal full-scale invasion at the memorial wall at St Michael's. She also saw damage at the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, one of Europe's holiest sites that was significantly damaged during a major Russian attack earlier this month.

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She said: "The UK's support for Ukraine is ironclad. I'm proud to visit Kyiv to see the benefits of UK investment.

"Our partnership is not only helping Ukraine on the battlefield, but providing the financial firepower to build back stronger, help vulnerable people and protect critical infrastructure.

"Ukraine's security is Europe's security and we will continue to support the people of Ukraine."

The Chancellor's visits follows discussions with her counterparts at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Gdansk. T

That saw the UK announce over £290 million of support for Ukraine's resilience and energy security through bilateral assistance and a UKEF backed deal, on top of the latest $1 billion of UK fiscal support.

In total, the UK has committed up to £25 billion for Ukraine - £16 billion in military support, up to £5.6 billion in non-military support and a £3.5 billion in UK export finance.

This funding is providing vital support to Ukraine and its people as they withstand brutal Russian attacks.

UK support has enabled more than 28,000 households and businesses to keep their lights and heating on over winter and is helping to protect 25% of Ukraine’s national energy infrastructure from further attacks.

The UK also continues to bear down on the Kremlin having sanctioned over Russia-linked 3,400 targets, while supporting Ukraine’s long-term prosperity.

This week Ukraine stepped up attacks on Russian positions in illegally annexed Crimea - in a daring bid to cut it off from mainland Russia.

Kyiv’s special forces linked up with Crimea resistance fighters to destroy a key logistics bridge in Crimea and more than 60 Russian military targets.