I am a freedom fighter who will work relentlessly to secure victory for Ukraine

The Ukrainian people are fighting heroically to defend more than just their homeland. They are fighting in part for sovereignty and freedom, challenging authoritarians who would trample it underfoot. Relenting now would send a terrible message to enemies of selfdetermination and democracy. The United Kingdom has stood side-byside with Ukraine in its darkest hour, and as prime minister, I will make sure we remain steadfast in our support.

In the wake of Putin’s invasion, I worked with Boris Johnson to rally our Nato allies in providing weapons, aid and diplomatic support to Ukraine. I led our G7 partners in targeting Russia with the toughest sanctions ever on a major economy. I dispatched war crimes experts to investigate the crimes committed by Putin’s army and supported the victims of his callous weaponisation of food.

I am the person who can be trusted to work relentlessly to ensure a Ukrainian victory and Russia’s strategic defeat, however long it takes. As prime minister, I will be Ukraine’s greatest friend, and will be completely committed to ensuring Zelensky prevails and Putin fails.

On entering No10, President Zelensky will be my first call. My message to him will be clear: the United Kingdom will do everything we can to help Ukraine win the battle for its future.

We will continue to back up our words with decisive action. We have already provided £2.3billion in military aid, more than anyone else in Europe. Scores of artillery guns, hundreds of drones and hundreds more anti-tank weapons to Ukraine will be arriving in the coming weeks.

As prime minister, I would work closely with our allies to ensure the Ukrainian people are supplied with the weapons and equipment they need to push Russian troops out of their country. We will ramp up the campaign to starve Putin’s war machine of funds through further sanctions. The United Kingdom has sanctioned more individuals and organisations than any other nation. This week, we targeted the Kremlinimposed puppets propping up proxy administrations in Ukraine. As prime minister, I will drive forward international efforts to hold all those complicit in the brutality to account.

There is increasing evidence of war crimes from innocent civilians being butchered to rape, forced abduction and torture. We have seen Russia break its promise to allow Ukraine to start exporting its grain again by attacking Odesa just a day after.

Such appalling acts show that Putin is not serious about peace. His aggression cannot be rewarded with loose talk about concessions and compromises. Backsliding will only serve to embolden him and authoritarians everywhere, including an increasingly assertive China.

So as prime minister, I will keep going with support for Ukraine.

Everything we do is designed to strengthen President Zelensky’s hand at the negotiating table. That is key to containing Russia and ensuring it can never behave this aggressively ever again.

At the same time, I would drive forward a landmark international effort to rebuild Ukraine in a new Marshall plan – something I have helped lead as Foreign Secretary. We will help Ukraine rebuild, regenerate and secure its freedom for the long term.

Ukraine’s recovery will be a symbol of the power of democracy, a stark symbol that Putin’s attempts to destroy this proud sovereign nation have failed. As prime minister, I will bring Ukraine and our allies to London as the host of next year’s Ukraine Recovery Conference. This will be a major step in Ukraine’s re-emergence as a stronger, more prosperous and united nation.

I will ensure Britain is front and centre in standing up to bullies and despots, and help us lead the free world in deterring would-be aggressors. This lesson of Ukraine is clear: we cannot afford to let our collective guard down again.

The Integrated Review identified Russia as the most acute direct threat to the security of our country and the European continent. I will update this in light of Putin’s invasion to reflect the full scale of the threats we face. This will include a new and updated focus on China given its increasingly aggressive behaviour.

As the threat level increases, so too must our resolve, but also the resources we dedicate to the defence of our fundamental freedoms and way of life. Under my leadership, we will raise defence spending to 3 per cent of GDP by the end of the decade. This will ensure our Armed Forces have what they need to keep our country safe and face down threats wherever and whenever they arise.

They are stepping up to train our Ukrainian friends with the skills needed to win the battle for their future. This is a powerful symbol of our shared determination.

Fundamentally, I am a freedom fighter. My instinct is always to defend freedom whenever it is under threat. The British people can trust me to do what is right and necessary on Ukraine, and to defend our freedom at home and abroad. My first and last priority will always be Britain’s safety and security.

The free world faces a defining moment in its history. We need to rise to meet that moment by reshaping our approach to security, by learning the lessons of Ukraine, and working more closely with allies old and new who share our values. I am the person to do that. As prime minister, I will keep Britain standing tall on the world stage. We will deter authoritarians and would-be aggressors through the courage of our convictions. Together, we will win the new era for liberty, sovereignty and self-determination.

‘I would work closely with our allies to ensure the Ukrainian people are supplied with the weapons’

‘We will raise defence spending to 3 per cent of GDP by the end of the decade. This will ensure our Armed Forces have what they need’