By KYIV. Nov 7 (Interfax-Ukraine) – British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak takes the Russian invasion of Ukraine as seriously as former British Prime Ministers Liz Truss and Boris Johnson, UK Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Ukraine Melinda Simmons has said.
"I don’t think anyone could accuse Rishi Sunak of not prioritising the invasion or not thinking that it’s important. He has quite important domestic economic issues that he must pay attention to, which he’s doing. But I have no sense that he’s taking this invasion any less seriously, than either Liz Truss or Boris Johnson," Simmons said in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine.
She said Sunak called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in his first day in office, and that was the first foreign leader that he called.
"That was his own choice to do that. I think it sent a very important message of continuity. I don’t have any concern about Rishi Sunak’s commitment. I don’t think that will change at all in terms of our policy for the future," Simmons said.
She drew attention to the fact that Sunak was the British chancellor during the invasion and before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and it was the Treasury that played a leading role in imposing sanctions.
"They work very closely with the Foreign Office on it, but it is their lead, and the UK has sanctioned more individuals and entities than anyone else in the world. We’re up to 1200 individuals, about 120 entities. That also includes Iranian individuals and entities associated with the drone programme," the ambassador said.
Simmons expressed her confidence that Sunak would be willing and ready to come to Ukraine as soon as she could.
"I’m not going to comment on timings for a Prime Minister visit for security reasons, frankly. But I imagine that he will want to be ready to come as soon as he’s able to do so," she said.
