BRITAIN will provide US$100 mil (£75.6 mil) to Ukraine through the World Bank, seeking to keep core state functions running and mitigate financial pressures caused by Russia’s invasion.
According to Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s office, Britain has sought a central role in the international response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by providing defensive military aid, arguing for tougher sanctions again the Kremlin and offering financial support.
Nevertheless, Johnson’s Government has faced criticism that its sanctions have been too slow and its refugee programme underwhelming.
The latest round of cash which is in addition to US$290.95 mil (£220 mil) pledged already, could be used to pay public-sector workers in Ukraine or fund pension and social security payments, British authorities said.
“While only Putin can fully end the suffering in Ukraine, today’s new funding will continue to help those facing the deteriorating humanitarian situation,” Johnson added.
The money will be disbursed through the World Bank Multi-Donor Trust Fund which is designed to fast-track donations to Ukraine and is already used by some other nations.
The funding announcement comes ahead of visits to London by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Netherlands leader Mark Rutte which Johnson will seek to use to strengthen the international response to the invasion.
The three leaders will hold a news conference on Monday.
Meanwhile, fighting stopped about 200,000 people from evacuating the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol for a second day in a row on Sunday as Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed to press ahead with his invasion unless Kyiv surrendered.
Most people trapped in the port city are sleeping underground to escape more than six days of near-constant shelling by encircling Russian forces that has cut off food, water, power and heating supplies, according to the Ukrainian authorities.
In a phone call with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, Putin told Erdogan he was ready for dialogue to end the fighting but that any attempt to draw out talks would fail, according to the Kremlin.
The suspension of what Moscow describes as a special operation “is only possible if Kyiv stops military operations and carries out well-known Russian demands,” the Kremlin said in a readout of the call.
The civilian death toll from hostilities across Ukraine since Moscow launched its invasion on Feb 24 stood at 364, including more than 20 children, the United Nations said on Sunday, adding hundreds more were injured. – March 7, 2022
