(C) Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
This story was originally published by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and is unaltered.
. . . . . . . . . .



Sunak Is Appointed As U.K. PM And Vows Support For Ukraine; Kremlin Says It Expects No 'Positive Changes' [1]

['Rfe Rl']

Date: 2022-10

Newly appointed British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has vowed to support Ukraine to the "conclusion" of its battle to repel invading Russian troops as the Kremlin said it sees "no grounds" for a positive shift in relations with the United Kingdom.

A former finance minister, Sunak, a Hindu, was invited to form a government by King Charles on October 25, becoming the United Kingdom's first leader of color and its youngest prime minister in two centuries.

In some of his first comments after his appointment to the lead the British government, the 42-year-old told reporters outside the prime minister's residence at 10 Downing Street in central London that he fully supports Ukraine in a "terrible war that must be seen successfully to its conclusion."

Britain, along with the United States, the European Union, and many other Western allies, has been a staunch supporter of Kyiv since Russian forces invaded in late February.

That support has strained relations with the Kremlin, which said on October 25 that it sees no reason to expect an improvement in ties any time soon.

"At the moment we see no grounds for hope that there will be any positive changes in the foreseeable future," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow.

"Russia remains open and ready to discuss the most difficult issues at the negotiating table. But not to the detriment of our own interests," Peskov added.

Sunak replaces Liz Truss, who was brought down after just 44 days in office by her economic program, which roiled financial markets, pushed up living costs for voters, and enraged much of her own party.

Sunak, a multimillionaire former hedge fund boss, told Conservative Party lawmakers in parliament on October 24 that they faced an "existential crisis" and must "unite or die." He also said Britain faces a "profound economic challenge" and needs stability and unity.

[END]
---
[1] Url: https://www.rferl.org/a/sunak-british-prime-minister-russia-ukraine/32099863.html

Published and (C) by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
Content appears here under this condition or license: By permission of RFE/RL.

via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds:
gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/rferl/