The war in Ukraine was at the top of the agenda in the Rishi Sunak- Biden meeting. Sunak began a two-day mission to Washington on Wednesday. To convey the message that, post-Brexit, the UK remains an indispensable US ally in a world of emboldened authoritarian states.
The US and the UK are the two largest military donors to Ukraine. The conflict will be the focus of Rishi Sunak meeting with Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday at the White House.
The collapse of a major dam in southern Ukraine, which sent floodwaters gushing through cities and across farmland, has added urgency to the matter. While neither Washington nor London has officially accused Russia of destroying the Kakhovka hydroelectric dam, Sunak told reporters on his flight to Washington that it would “demonstrate the new lows that we would have seen from Russian aggression.”
Additional Air Defense Measures as Ukraine Launches Counteroffensive
As Ukraine launches a counteroffensive to retake occupied territory, the UK and the US are likely to negotiate additional air defence measures. Against Russian bombardment as part of an international campaign to provide Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets.
This visit marks the first trip of Rishi Sunak to the US capital since assuming office in October. But it is the fourth meeting between him and President Biden in the past few months. Their previous encounters took place at a Group of Seven summits in Japan, in Northern Ireland, and during a three-way defence meeting with Australia in San Diego.
There are notable differences between Sunak, 43, and the 80-year-old Biden in terms of their political ideologies. Sunak follows in the footsteps of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, championing free-market principles and expressing caution towards extensive government interventions in the economy. This stands in contrast to Biden’s approach, exemplified by his Inflation Reduction Act, a substantial package of tax breaks and subsidies aimed at promoting green industries.
