Nova Khakovka: ‘New low’ if Russia behind dam assault – Rishi Sunak
The prime minister stated Russia would have hit “new lows” if it seems that Moscow is liable for what he described as the biggest assault on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine because the begin of the battle, following the destruction of a vital dam.
Speaking en path to Washington, Rishi Sunak informed reporters that the intelligence businesses had but to make a definitive judgement on whether or not President Putin was behind the “appalling attack” on the Nova Kakhova dam as he condemned the incident.
“If it’s intentional, it would represent, I think, the largest attack on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine since the start of the war, and just demonstrate the new lows that we would have seen from Russian aggression,” he informed the press forward of his two-day journey to Washington.
War latest: US working to share intel on dam disaster
“Attacks on civilian infrastructure are appalling and wrong. We’ve seen previous instances of that in this conflict so far, but it’s too early to say definitively.”
The prime minister additionally stated that the UK’s instant response to this assault was to supply humanitarian help.
Why is the PM going to Washington?
“We had already put resources and funding in place to support both the UN and the Red Cross to respond to situations like this,” he stated. “And they are now being able to divert those resources to particularly help humanitarian response and the evacuation in this area as a result of what’s happened.”
As with the G7 in Japan however two weeks in the past, the matter of Ukraine and the way Western allies can greatest assist Kyiv in its battle in opposition to Russia will likely be a central a part of discussions between the UK and US leaders when Mr Sunak holds bi-lateral talks within the Oval Office on Thursday.
“One of the things the prime minister and President Biden will discuss is how we can sustain the huge level of global support for Ukraine while providing them with the capabilities they need, including air defence,” the prime minister’s spokesperson stated forward of the journey.
These discussions come as allies intensify assist earlier than Ukraine’s expected summer counteroffensive.
A giant breakthrough got here on the G7 final month when the US signalled it and allies would supply coaching and F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, a request President Zelenskyy hammered residence to allies for months earlier than the US moved.
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Number 10 is eager to emphasize not simply the Rishi Sunak reset after the testy period of the Boris Johnson and Liz Truss reigns, however the strengthening of relations between the US and UK beneath a Sunak premiership.
In his favour has been the decision with the EU over post-Brexit buying and selling preparations in Northern Ireland, and Mr Sunak’s steadfast assist for Ukraine.
And this can actually be a visit filled with photo-ops to strengthen the “special relationship”. As effectively as the pictures of the prime minister on Capitol Hill and within the Oval Office completed off with a White House press convention, Mr Sunak can even attend the Washington Nationals baseball recreation because the visitor of honour to have a good time the annual UK-US friendship day – though he will not be throwing the ceremonial first pitch, as an alternative leaving that activity to a British veteran.
Rishi Sunak with Joe Biden throughout his go to to Northern Ireland. Pic: Simon Walker / No 10
Rishi Sunak talks with Joe Biden earlier than a session on the primary day of the G7 Leaders Summit in Japan. Pic: No 10
A main minister with a background in finance and an curiosity in tech – he met his spouse in California whereas learning at Stanford – Mr Sunak is making an attempt to play to his strengths together with his emphasis on better financial interoperability and deeper commerce ties, whereas additionally making a pitch to President Biden to get the UK extra deeply concerned within the regulation of AI.
But as he tries to forge a post-Brexit place on the planet for the UK – Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak’s management on Ukraine an undoubted optimistic – London is deprived: When it involves AI, it’s the US, China and the EU at the forefront with the UK largely on the sidelines.
When it involves commerce, the Biden administration has put the much-vaunted US-UK free commerce deal into the deep freeze, a lot in order that neither aspect plan to even increase it in these bilateral talks.
Ukraine War: Major dam assault
While Mr Sunak will use the journey to attempt to drum up extra US funding, with an announcement of £14bn of US backing into the UK and an deal with to the “business roundtable chief executive” discussion board, the absence of any commerce deal is one other damaged Conservative manifesto promise.
Mr Johnson and his authorities had championed a US commerce deal as an enormous Brexit bonus, whereas President Trump insisted in 2017 the UK was “at the front of the queue”.
It now seems that President Obama’s “back of the queue” warning forward of the 2016 EU referendum is extra apposite, with no timeline as to when, if ever, a bilateral commerce deal will likely be dusted down.
“Neither side is pursuing a US free trade deal currently, but our trading relationship with the US is vital,” the prime minister’s spokesperson stated.
Trade between the nations now stands at £279bn a yr. Back in 2020, authorities evaluation urged a commerce deal might enhance commerce – which then stood at £221bn – by £15.8bn and likewise stated wages might get a long-term bounce value £1.8bn from a US deal.
Pic: AP
On Artificial Intelligence, the prime minister needs to take a lead in setting a regulatory framework, one thing he has raised because the G7, however post-Brexit, the UK has been locked out of key boards between the EU and the US the place AI governance plans are negotiated on a bilateral foundation.
Britain’s requests for the same dialogue with Washington have been repeatedly rebuffed, which has left Mr Sunak compelled to pursue direct channels to President Biden, which he’ll do that week.
For the prime minister, Ukraine excessive on the agenda amplifies the place the UK has proven sturdy management post-Brexit – however on commerce and AI the choice to depart the membership arguably bears scars, be it that lack of commerce deal or jostling for a glance in on the massive international problem of AI.