At the Ukraine Reconstruction Conference in Lugano, Switzerland, today the British Foreign Office announced that the UK plans to support Kyiv in the short term with humanitarian aid and in the long term to restart the Ukrainian economy by providing British financial and economic expertise.

She noted that London “will especially support the restoration of Kyiv at the request of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.” In addition, the UK plans to work with Kyiv and its allies to host a conference to rebuild Ukraine in 2023 and will open an office in London to help coordinate these efforts.

“The restoration of Ukraine after an aggressive war by Russia will become a symbol of the power of democracy over tyranny. This will show Russian President Vladimir Putin that his attempts to destroy Ukraine have only led to a stronger, more prosperous and united country,” Sled said.