Global donors pledge nearly $10 billion to support Ukrainian refugees
Donors including the Canadian government and the European Commission on Saturday pledged nearly $10 billion in donations, loans and grants to support refugees fleeing the war following Russia’s invasion.
The fundraising event in Warsaw, Poland, yielded nearly $2 billion to support internally displaced people inside Ukraine, and nearly $8 billion for refugees who have fled the country to neighbouring states.
Governments, companies and individuals together pledged $4.5 billion in donations, which will be distributed largely via the Ukrainian authorities or the United Nations.
Zelenskyy thanks Boris Johnson for Kyiv meeting as U.K. offers more aid
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson for his Saturday visit to Kyiv where he briefed him on the ongoing war with Russia.
For his part Johnson said the U.K. would provide Ukraine with additional financial and military aid.
“This visit is a manifestation of strong, significant, constant support of the United Kingdom for Ukraine. We appreciate it and will remember it,” said Zelenskyy in a news release.
He added: “I am grateful to the United Kingdom for continuing these powerful sanctions, constantly increasing its packages, and also helping Ukraine by strengthening our defense capabilities.”
Zelenskyy said that other Western democracies should follow the example of Great Britain, saying that it is time “to impose a full embargo on Russian energy, to increase the supply of all weapons to us.”
Boris Johnson in Kyiv: ‘Putin must fail’
KYIV, Ukraine — U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s surprise visit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv included a pledge of 120 armored vehicles and new anti-ship missile systems, part of another 100 million pounds ($130 million) of high-grade military equipment. Johnson also confirmed an additional $500 million in World Bank lending, taking Britain’s total loan guarantee up to $1 billion.
Johnson said Ukraine defied the odds pushing Russian forces “from the gates of Kyiv, achieving the greatest feat of arms of the 21st century.″
Johnson also described a vision for a future Ukraine so fortified and protected by the equipment, technology and know-how of Britain and its partners that it can never be threatened in the same way again. In the meantime, Johnson said, “there is a huge amount to do to make sure that Ukraine is successful, that Ukraine wins and that Putin must fail.”