Liz Truss vows to send "military aid worth billions" to Kiev

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
20 Sep 2022 08:46
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The British PM accuses Russian President Vladimir Putin of consigning "millions of people in Europe to a colder" winter all while funding Ukrainian ultra-nationalists.

UK Prime Minister Liz Truss

On her first trip as UK Prime Minister, Liz Truss has arrived in the United States, where she will meet with US President Joe Biden.

Relations between Biden and Truss have already been stressed over the latter’s threats to rip up the post-Brexit trading arrangements in Northern Ireland.

Biden has voiced concern that the Brexit squabble will jeopardize provincial peace, and he has been hesitant to reach a free trade agreement with the UK as a result.

However, the two leaders are likely to find common ground in pursuing a tough stance against Russia, as well as a hawkish stance toward China.

Truss will exploit her visit to the United Nations General Assembly in New York to reiterate UK's long-term commitment to the war in Ukraine, vowing to send at least £2.3 billion ($2.6 billion) in military supplies in 2023.

It is worth noting that the UK is already the second largest military supplier to Ukraine after the US.

Prior to the visit, Truss said: “Ukraine’s victories in recent weeks have been inspirational. Time and time again these brave people have defied the doubters and showed what they can do when given the military, economic and political support they need”.

“My message to the people of Ukraine is this: the UK will continue to be right behind you every step of the way. Your security is our security,” she added.

Elsewhere in her remarks, Truss said: “By turning off the taps of Nord Stream gas pipeline, Putin has consigned millions of people in Europe to a colder and more difficult winter”.

“Too many lives – in Ukraine, in Europe, and around the world – are being manipulated by a dependence on Russian energy. We need to work together to end this once and for all.”

Meanwhile, Gazprom Management Committee Deputy Chairman Oleg Aksyutin has lately said that the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline could solve all of the European Union's current energy problems; however, European politicians are opposing this decision.

In the same context, he affirmed that Gazprom is still carrying out all of its investment projects.

In this regard, Russian President Vladimir Putin said, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, that the West should contact Kiev if they want another route for gas deliveries.

"Call Kiev, let them open the second route," Putin told reporters, adding that Gazprom always fulfills its contractual obligations, and he noted that Europe can always lift sanctions from the Nord Stream 2 pipeline if they face issues with gas shortages.

Putin added that the Siemens company confirmed that the turbines of the Nord Stream pipeline are out of service.

"They saw and recorded it. They put their signatures under the act. It [the turbine] is necessary to repair, it is impossible to operate," Putin said.

Truss will also meet with other leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron during her two-day visit to New York.

Following her trip, Truss is expected to finalize her mini-budget, which is expected to confirm national insurance cuts.

This is happening as global inflation is soaring, with the UK's accelerating at the fastest pace in 40 years in July, reaching double-digits and adding more pressure on the Bank of England.

Last month, the consumer price index boosted up 10.1% on an annual basis, surpassing the FXStreet-cited market consensus of 9.8% and speeding up from 9.4% in June.

The last time inflation was this extreme was in 1982 - 40 years ago.

Furthermore, research by the International Monetary Fund showed that the increasing energy crisis is wreaking havoc on British family budgets more than any other country in Western Europe.