David Cameron makes first visit to Ukraine as new UK foreign secretary

BIRMINGHAM, England / MOSCOW

Newly appointed British Foreign Secretary David Cameron made his first official visit to Ukraine on Thursday, pledging continued military support and a refocus on Ukraine as war continues in the Middle East.

In a video posted by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on X, Cameron said his visit stressed the message that “we will continue to give you the moral support, the diplomatic support, the economic support, but above all the military support that you need, not just this year, and next year, but however long it takes.”

Zelenskyy congratulated Cameron – a former British prime minister – on his new appointment and thanked him for making his first working visit as the top UK diplomat to Kyiv.

"This is very important, especially now, when the world is paying attention not only to the situation on the battlefield in Ukraine, and dividing the focus really does not help," Zelenskyy said, referring to the Israel-Palestine conflict, which has dominated the news for over a month now.

"We are grateful for the unwavering support of Ukraine from the United Kingdom. We are grateful for the warm welcome of Ukrainian citizens in the UK. And we are glad that you came to Ukraine," he told Cameron.

“Weapons for the front, strengthening of the air defense, the protection of our people and critical infrastructure. I am grateful to Britain for its support!" Zelenskyy also wrote on Telegram.

The two officials also discussed the situation in the Black Sea and the working of the so-called "alternative grain corridor," said a statement by the Ukrainian Presidency.

Specifically, the Ukrainian leader thanked the British government for its efforts to introduce insurance mechanisms for ships using the route.

Cameron was prime minister from 2010 to 2016, resigning after the UK voted to leave the EU; he had backed the Remain camp.

The UK has provided Ukraine with billions of pounds in military aid since Russia launched the war in February 2022.

Military hardware donations have included a number of Challenger 2 tanks and long-range missiles, and tens of thousands of Ukrainian recruits have been trained by the British military on UK soil.