US President Joe Biden and new British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak agreed to work together to help Ukraine and stand up to China during a meeting on Tuesday, according to the White House.
They spoke for the first time hours after Sunak became Britain’s third prime minister this year, following the economic crisis following the resignation of Liz Truss, who was in office for 49 days.
Only recently has Mr. Biden publicly criticized Mr. Truss’ failed economic strategy. Relations between the two countries have also been somewhat strained in recent years, with tensions continuing over a post-Brexit deal in Northern Ireland. The White House is concerned about the impact on peace in the region.
Biden and Snack reaffirmed the “special relationship” between the United States and Britain and said they would work together to promote global security and prosperity, the White House said in a summary of the conversation.
“Leaders agreed it was important to work together to support Ukraine and hold Russia accountable for its aggression,” the statement said of the war caused by Russia’s aggression.
A spokesperson for Downing Street said Snak had promised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that Britain’s support for Ukraine would be unwavering and that it would be “stronger than ever under his prime minister”. “The prime minister said … President Zelensky can expect his government to maintain continued solidarity. We agreed that we needed to continue.”
Mr Zelensky said he believed “British leadership in defense of democracy and freedom” will only grow stronger. “Ukrainian-British relations have recently reached new heights, but there is still potential to strengthen cooperation.”
The White House said Biden and Sunak also agreed to “address the challenges posed by China.”
Downing Street previously released its own summary of the conference call, citing efforts to “counteract China’s malevolent influence.”
“President Biden congratulated the Prime Minister on his appointment and the leaders looked forward to working closely together,” the statement said. agreed with the enormous strength of
“The two leaders discussed areas such as the Indo-Pacific, where the AUX Agreement has been formed as part of efforts to increase stability and counter China’s malicious influence, and the extent of bilateral Anglo-American cooperation. We talked.
“They thought about the leading role our country is playing in helping the Ukrainian people and making sure Putin fails in this war.
“The Prime Minister and President Biden have also agreed on the need to ensure the safety and prosperity of the people of Northern Ireland by maintaining the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement.”
The two leaders are scheduled to meet in person at the G20 summit to be held in Indonesia next month.
Britain has been a major European ally of the United States in arming and supporting Ukrainian forces seeking to repel the Russian invasion that began in February.
Earlier Tuesday, Biden was congratulating Snak in a tweet.
Mr Biden on Monday called the nomination of Britain’s first non-white prime minister a “pretty amazing, groundbreaking milestone”.
With Agence France-Presse, Press Association and Reuters
