Government hails new digital trade agreement with war-torn Ukraine

Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch signed a new digital trade agreement with Ukraine, which was hailed by the government as guaranteeing the wartorn country access to UK financial services as it seeks to rebuild its shattered economy.

The deal comes after First Lady Olena Zelenska used a visit to Parliament to call for British support for a special tribunal to prosecute Russian aggression against Ukraine, as she told MPS and peers of the war crimes Russia is alleged to have carried out across her country.

Senior Tory MP Tobias Ellwood said yesterday that the UK should “absolutely honour” Ms Zelenska’s request, which came as she addressed an audience of MPS and peers that included Boris Johnson and Sir Keir Starmer.

Ukraine’s first deputy prime minister, Yulia

Svyrydenko, signed the trade agreement with Ms Badenoch yesterday, with officials saying that the deal – based on a similar agreement earlier this year between the UK and Singapore – will support digital commerce through the facilitation of crossborder data flows.

It follows an approach by the government in Kyiv over the summer to see if

such an agreement would be possible.

Ms Badenoch said: “The landmark digital trade deal agreed today between our two countries paves the way for a new era of modern trade between us.

“This will help protect jobs, livelihoods and families now and in Ukraine’s post-war future.”

Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch signed landmark deal.