The president of Ukraine and the prime minister of the UK have spoken about boosting the supply of military supplies in light of the ongoing conflict with Russia.
On Friday morning, No. 10 claims that Rishi Sunak and Volodymyr Zelensky conducted the call.
The leaders discussed ways to expedite military assistance to Ukraine, according to a Downing Street official.
The Prime Minister stated that in order for Ukraine to build on its most recent victories on the battlefield, the UK and its allies must continue to put Ukraine in the best possible position.
‘That included increasing interoperability with Nato both in the short and long term, the Prime Minister added.’
The spokesperson added: ‘The leaders agreed to stay in close touch.’
It follows after a leak of classified documents from inside the US intelligence services suggested Ukraine could run out of air-defence missiles within a matter of weeks.
US authorities have since arrested Jack Teixeira, a member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, who’s been charged with the unauthorised removal of classified national defence information.
Widely condemned as endangering Ukraine’s position in the conflict, which has lasted for more than a year, Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder described the leak as a ‘deliberate criminal act.’
According to the spokesperson for Downing Street: ‘The leaders discussed the latest situation on the battlefield and the Prime Minister paid tribute to the efforts of the Ukrainian forces in Bakhmut.’
The city, located in Eastern Ukraine, has seen some of the fiercest fighting in recent weeks, and represents a key transport and logistics hub for Ukrainian forces.
No 10 as also added that during the call, the Prime Minister had condemned a video circulating online, as yet unverified, of a Ukrainian soldier being beheaded.
The spokesperson said: ‘Discussing the abhorrent beheading of a Ukrainian soldier shown on social media in recent days, the Prime Minister said the video was appalling and those responsible had to be held to account.’