The UK Foreign Secretary reaffirmed Britain's unwavering support for Ukraine during his first visit to Kyiv in the role, announcing £54 million ($71.3 million) in new funding to strengthen the country's resilience ahead of winter.
According to the UK government, the funding will provide energy and humanitarian assistance to help Ukrainians through the winter as Russian attacks continue to leave communities without electricity.
"We stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine not only because Ukraine is on the front line of European and NATO security, but because it is at the heart of a global struggle to uphold the principles of justice and the rule of law," Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said.
"My message to Putin is clear: you cannot outwait us. Until you choose the path of peace, the UK will not stop supporting Ukraine, our values and our national security. You will continue to remain a pariah."
Of the total funding, £20 million ($26.4 million) will be allocated to strengthening Ukraine's energy security.
The money will help finance emergency repair teams working to restore Ukraine's energy system following Russian strikes, purchase backup generators and solar power systems to maintain electricity supplies during outages, and support new technologies to diversify Ukraine's energy sources.
An additional £34 million ($44.9 million) will be directed towards ensuring heating and water supplies for Ukrainian families ahead of winter.
The funding will also provide direct cash assistance in cooperation with the Ukrainian government and humanitarian partners operating on the ground, including UNICEF, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the Ukrainian Red Cross.
