Volodymyr Zelenskyy has engaged in a flurry of diplomatic activity in the run-up to Donald Trump’s inauguration next Monday, which is expected to bring a departure from the outgoing US administration’s pledge to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes to defeat Russia.
Senior UN officials have met Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv to discuss ways to strengthen humanitarian support for Ukraine.
That comes as the UN launched a humanitarian appeal for $3.32 billion (€3.22 billion) to support more than eight million people affected by the war with Russia.
In a statement, the UN said the funding was to “support critical assistance” for around six million people living inside Ukraine with some of the money designated to assist the governments of 11 countries hosting Ukrainian refugees.
The UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher was part of the delegation to Kyiv, as was the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi.
“This is the first visit we’ve done as a joint visit and it’s a sign of our solidarity as the whole UN family, and, you know, I really want to start there,” said Fletcher.
“You know, we’ve been with you throughout this war and we’re here to demonstrate that solidarity.”
Fletcher and Grandi told Zelenskyy that the UN looks forward to collaborating closely and strengthening Ukraine’s humanitarian position.
Fletcher previously served as global strategy director of the Global Business Coalition for Education from 2015-2019, served as the UK’s ambassador to Lebanon from 2011-2015 and as foreign and development policy adviser to three UK prime ministers from 2007-2011.
Future security for Ukraine
Earlier in the day, Zelenskyy refused to be drawn on “future security” for his country with Donald Trump’s inauguration as US president just days away.
“It is too early to talk about the details, because we have not yet had a detailed conversation with the new US administration about security guarantees,” he said at a joint briefing with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
“This is all ahead, and only after that we will understand the construction of the future security for Ukraine, which we want, or which will be clear to other partners,” he said.
Starmer arrived in Ukraine’s capital on Thursday with a pledge to help guarantee the country’s security for a century.
Starmer and Zelenskyy signed a ‘100-Year Partnership’ treaty in Kyiv covering areas including defense, science, energy and trade.
Starmer’s unannounced visit is his first trip to Ukraine since he took office in July.
Starmer also promised that the UK would “play our part” in guaranteeing Ukraine’s post-war security.
“When we say Ukraine must be in the strongest possible position, that can’t be just words. And that’s why I’ve had such intense discussions with President Zelenskyy now, over the months that I’ve been prime minister and will again here in Ukraine, because that is very, very important as we go into 2025. We’re now a long way into this conflict. We mustn’t let up,” Starmer said.
Zelenskyy said that the two leaders had discussed an idea floated by French President Emmanuel Macron for Western troops to monitor a future ceasefire but said that it’s “a bit too early to talk about details.”
Starmer left the door open to UK participation, saying he had indicated “that we will play our full part,” adding that “if Russia succeeds in this aggression, it will impact all of us for a very, very long time.”
The Italian defence chief Guido Crosetto was also in Kyiv on Thursday, two days after Germany’s defence minister Boris Pistorius visited and three days after Zelenskyy talked by phone with French President Emmanuel Macron.
The flurry of diplomatic activity comes in the run-up to Donald Trump’s inauguration next Monday, which is expected to bring a departure from the outgoing US administration’s pledge to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes to defeat Russia.
On the campaign trail Trump has been critical of the amount of money Washington has sent to Ukraine, both in military and humanitarian aid, and said he could end the war “in a day” without giving any details about how.
Trump has also indicated he wants Europe to shoulder more of the burden for helping Ukraine.
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