UK foreign minister to visit North America to boost support for Ukraine

British Foreign Secretary James Cleverley seeks to shore up support for Ukraine on a visit to the US and Canada beginning Tuesday to mark the first anniversary of Russia’s aggression.

Britain has been a staunch supporter of Kyiv since Russia’s invasion last February, pledging to send 14 Challenger 2 tanks and other heavy weapons to Ukraine over the weekend.

Germany is under pressure to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, but the German government will only supply such tanks to Ukraine if an agreement is reached among Kyiv’s main allies, particularly the United States. says it should.

Tactfully, it tells US Secretary of State Antony Brinken and Canadian Secretary of State Melanie Jolie that it is the right time to bring military aid to Ukraine “faster.”

“Today, we stand united against Putin’s unlawful war and will continue to use our own strong defense and security ties to ensure that the Ukrainian people ultimately win. I will,” he said politely.

The British Foreign Office also said it would cleverly raise the topic of Iran during the trip after Britain temporarily recalled its ambassador after the execution of Anglo-Iranian Alireza Akbari on Saturday.