Minister Says UK Needs “Deep Pockets” For Ukraine Support To Continue

Europe Minister Nus Ghani has warned that this year is “make or break” for Ukraine and warned the British taxpayers will need to have “deep pockets” to support its fight against Russia long term. 

“Make no mistake, this is the defining struggle of our generation, the make-or-break moment is this year,” she told PoliticsHome. 

Speaking on the sidelines of the Delphi Economic Forum in Greece, she refused to set a timeframe for how long the UK could continue supporting Ukraine. “We may not know when it may end so our pockets most definitely have to be deep,” she added. 

“I’ve always felt that this could take a little more longer than we’d want or anticipated. We do not know what the final costs may be but the greatest cost is of course Putin winning.”

Ghani added that the US support currently held up by Republicans in Congress would be a “game changer” for Ukraine if it were allowed to flow.

“We’ve got to get through this year,” she continued. 

“We know that if the Americans invest even more it will be a game-changer.” 

US House Speaker Mike Johnson refused to hold a vote on new military aid for Ukraine last year and this week did not make time to meet Foreign Secretary David Cameron, a move widely seen as a snub to British attempts to encourage the GOP to release new money.  Lord Cameron did meet Donald Trump at the former President’s golf club Mar-a-Lago where they discussed “how to end the killing” in Ukraine, according to a statement from Trump’s campaign team. 

Trump is widely expected to pull US support for Ukraine if reelected President in November, prompting MAGA Republicans to frustrate the Biden Administration’s attempts to deliver new equipment to Kyiv. 

Ghani – who supported Brexit – said her focus in the job would be on