Britain’s new Prime Minister Liz Truss spent her first day in office delivering a full-scale attack against Russia and China, while reiterating the primacy of the so-called Special Relationship with the U.S. Not surprisingly, her first phone call to a foreign leader after being anointed as UK prime minister by the queen yesterday was to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “to reiterate the United Kingdom’s steadfast support for Ukraine’s freedom and democracy,” according to the statement issued by the Prime Minister’s office. Truss “reiterated to the Ukrainian leader that he had her full backing, and Ukraine could depend on the UK’s assistance for the long term.” The two leaders also “discussed the need to strengthen global security and the measures necessary to cut off the funds fuelling Putin’s war machine.”
“The leaders deplored Putin’s attempts to weaponize energy, and the Prime Minister said it was vital Russia’s blackmail did not deter the west from ensuring Putin fails. She also underscored the importance of ensuring the UK and our allies continue to build energy independence,” the statement went on. “She praised the Ukrainians’ fight for sovereignty and self-determination and said it was essential Ukraine succeeds and Russia fails.”
Zelensky, for his part, wrote on Twitter: “I was the first among foreign leaders to have a conversation with the newly elected British Prime Minister, Liz Truss. I invited her to Ukraine. I thanked the people of Britain for their leadership in the military and economic support of Ukraine.”
Truss’s second call was to US President Joe Biden, to ensure that he was onboard with the US-UK “special relationship” where the US continues to act “as a cockboat in the wake of the British man-of-war.”
“The Prime Minister looked forward to working closely with President Biden as leaders of free democracies to tackle shared challenges, particularly the extreme economic problems unleashed by Putin’s war,” the No. 10 readout reports. “The Prime Minister and President Biden reflected on the enduring strength of the Special Relationship. They agreed that the partnership between our countries, fortified by our shared values, has been crucial for defending and advancing freedom and democracy in the world.”
Furthermore, “They agreed to build on those links, including by furthering our deep defense alliance through NATO and AUKUS. The leaders reinforced their commitment to strengthening global liberty, tackling the risks posed by autocracies and ensuring Putin fails in Ukraine.”
According to the White House readout, Biden and Truss “discussed the importance of continued close cooperation on global challenges, including supporting Ukraine as it defends itself against Russian aggression, addressing the challenges posed by China, preventing Iran from ever acquiring a nuclear weapon, and securing sustainable and affordable energy resources.”
