Nato chief Stoltenberg praises UK's 'strong support' for Ukraine

Stoltenberg says the UK is playing a key role in 'leading our efforts' to help in the face of Russian aggression

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, left, with Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at No 10 Downing Street in London on Wednesday. AP

Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg has praised British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for the "strong support" the UK provides to Ukraine, as the pair held talks in Downing Street.

After visiting a Kent army camp where Ukrainian soldiers are being trained, Mr Stoltenberg said the UK was playing a “key role” in “leading our efforts” to help the country against Russian aggression.

It is also “encouraging” to see Ukraine making territorial gains, he said, as Moscow announced that it was withdrawing from the southern city of Kherson and nearby areas.

“We have seen the announcement but we will of course wait and see what actually happens,” Mr Stoltenberg said.

“What we do know is that Russia has been pushed back, first from the north around Kyiv, then in the east around Kharkiv, and then actually we see slowly how the Ukrainians are able to push back the Russian forces also in the south around Kherson.

“So it is encouraging to see how the brave Ukrainian forces are able to liberate more Ukrainian territory.”

Ukraine war latest - in pictures

Smoke rises on the outskirts of the city during a Russian missile attack in Kyiv. Reuters

Workers surround the Monument to the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred with sandbags against damage from shelling in Mykolaiv. EPA

Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomes Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev for talks before a meeting between the Russian president and the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi, Russia. AFP

People take water from a water pump in Kyiv. EPA

A woman walks past a damaged building in the town of Nova Kakhovka. Reuters

A woman outside her home, which was destroyed during battles at the start of the conflict, in Yahidne, Chernihiv. Getty Images

People shelter inside a subway station during a Russian missile attack in Kyiv. Reuters

Firefighters at the site of a drone attack in Kyiv, Ukraine. AP

A woman walks past the site of a Russian missile strike in the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv. Reuters

Rescuer workers at a building destroyed in an attack in Mykolaiv. Reuters

Parts of a drone lie on a street in Kyiv. Reuters

A drone flies over the Ukrainian capital during an attack. AFP

Ukrainian servicemen tow a captured Russian armoured vehicle in Rudneve village, Kharkiv. EPA

A partially destroyed residential building in Saltivka, in Kharkiv. AP

Ukrainian servicemen fire a captured Russian howitzer on a front line near Kupyansk city, Kharkiv. EPA

Ukrainian servicemen near the recently retaken town of Lyman in Donetsk region. AFP

An officer from a Ukrainian national police emergency demining team prepares to detonate collected anti-tank mines and explosives near Lyman, in the Donetsk region. AFP

A boy playing on a destroyed Russian tank on display in Kyiv. AFP

A young couple hiding underground during an air alert in Zaporizhzhia. AFP

Ukrainian firefighters looking for survivors after a strike in Zaporizhzhia. AFP

Workers fix a banner reading 'Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson - Russia!' to the State Historical Museum near Red Square in Moscow. AFP

Residents try to cross a destroyed bridge in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine. AFP

Alyona Kishinskaya helps to clean up a shop as it prepares to reopen in Balakiya, Ukraine, after a six-month Russian occupation. Getty Images

Alla, 12, has a swinging time in Balakiya, Ukraine, as life goes on despite the war. Getty Images

Ukrainian flags in the town square in Balakiya. Getty Images

A destroyed Russian command centre in Izium, Ukraine. Getty Images

In what may be a final farewell, young Russian recruits - escorted by their wives - walk to a train station in Volgograd before being sent to war in Ukraine. AP

Russian recruits board the train to Ukraine in Volgograd. AP

Ukrainian soliders drive a tank at the recently retaken eastern side of the Oskil River in Kharkiv region, Ukraine. AFP

Volunteers pass boxes of food aid on a destroyed bridge over the Oskil River. AFP

Ukrainian soliders rest on an armoured personnel carrier. AFP

A sign warns of landmines in Izyum, eastern Ukraine. AFP

This crater was left after a missile strike in the Donetsk region of Ukraine. AFP

Mr Sunak earlier welcomed Mr Stoltenberg to Downing Street, saying there was “lots for us to talk about”.

“You’ll know that the Nato alliance is a cornerstone of the UK’s security," the Prime Minister said at the start of the meeting.

"We’re proud to be the second-largest contributor and we remain extremely committed to the alliance.

“I also know under your leadership that Nato will continue to evolve to face the new threats that we’re all seeing, and [we will] of course work with you and other allies to support Ukraine against Russian aggression.”

After the talks, Mr Stoltenberg said it had been a “good meeting”.

He said he used the opportunity to praise Mr Sunak for “the strong support that the United Kingdom provides to Ukraine”.

Mr Stoltenberg said Russian President Vladimir Putin made “several huge mistakes” when he invaded, including underestimating Nato’s ability to support Ukraine.

Antonov AN-225 destroyed by Russia in Ukraine - in pictures

The wreckage of an Antonov AN-225, the world's biggest aircraft, sits under a steel shelter at Gostomel airfield near Kyiv in April 2022. EPA

The cargo plane, named Mriya (which means Dream in Ukrainian), was destroyed during a heavy battle with Russian troops at the airfield earlier this year. Reuters

The Soviet-era plane was a symbol of Ukraine's identity and was cherished by aviation enthusiasts. AP

Poland's Minister of Interior and Administration Mariusz Kaminski stands near the heavily damaged plane on the outskirts of Kyiv. AP

The Ukrainian plane had six engines, 32 wheels and wingspan that matched the length of a football pitch. AP

A Ukrainian man searches for unexploded explosives near the damaged plane. AP

The aircraft's role in the aviation industry took on greater significance amid the coronavirus pandemic, as it delivered tonne after tonne of vital aid to countries worldwide. AP

The Mriya entered commercial service in 2001 and was originally developed to transport the Energiya carrier-rocket and Buran space shuttle. AP

The aircraft could carry a maximum payload of 250,000 kilograms, and had a wingspan of 88 metres. Its size meant it could fit a helicopter or haulage lorry inside. AFP

Ukrainian soldiers stand in front of the destroyed plane. Reuters

The aircraft was more than seven metres longer than a Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental and 11 metres longer than the Airbus A380-800, the largest passenger plane. AFP

It was the only Antonov An-225 in the world. AP

A second version was in the making and reached about 70 per cent completion in the mid-2000s before progress was halted because of the cost involved. AP

Since its first flight in 1988, it claimed 242 world records, according to Antonov Airlines. AP

The Mriya touched down at Dubai's Al Maktoum International Airport in May 2016 after visiting Perth in Australia to deliver a 117-tonne generator. AFP

The Mriya was so large that the length of its cargo hold was longer than the Wright brothers’ first flight, from take-off to landing. Reuters

It cost around $30,000 an hour to hire the plane. Reuters

“What we see when you look at the opinion polls, the political messages from different Nato-allied countries, is that we are ready to continue to provide support for as long as it takes,” he said.

Mr Stoltenberg said there were “always some voices that have a different opinion”, but the “clear message” from most is that “we will continue to support Ukraine”.

Downing Street said the pair agreed on the importance of the alliance “continuing to adapt to face new threats”.

Mr Sunak also outlined plans to update the UK’s Integrated Review on defence and security, a government spokeswoman said.

Ukraine capital Kyiv hit by kamikaze drones - in pictures

Firefighters in action after a drone fired on buildings in Kyiv, Ukraine. AP

A drone approaches for an attack in the Ukraine capital. AFP

A police officer fires at a drone flying overhead. AFP

Smoke rises from a building after a drone attack. AFP

A Ukrainian serviceman takes cover as an air-raid siren sounds. Reuters

Debris near the site of a drone attack. AFP

Police stand guard as smoke rises from buildings. Reuters

A drone in the sky seconds before it fired on buildings. AP

Plumes of smoke rise after a Russian drone strike. Reuters

There has been some uncertainty over whether Mr Sunak would stick by his predecessor Liz Truss’s pledge to boost the investment as a proportion of GDP to 3 per cent by the end of the decade – a more ambitious target than Nato’s minimum of 2 per cent.

“The United Kingdom has led by example over many years when it comes to … defence spending, spending more than 2 per cent of GDP on defence; the United Kingdom has done that and now more and more allies are following example of the United Kingdom,” Mr Stoltenberg said.

“But of course, in a more dangerous world we need to invest more in our defence, and I am absolutely confident that the United Kingdom will continue to lead by example on defence spending.”