The UK’s national security adviser has said that the fight for Ukraine will require “real hardships and difficulties” over the coming winter.
Jonathan Powell was giving a rare public speech in Kyiv, where he spoke with the audience about what the UK’s strategy is for its continued defence of Ukraine.
Despite stressing that there will be “real hardships” Powell’s address to the Yalta European Strategy Forum was largely optimistic, with the adviser saying that the current round of Russian escalation is proof that European pressure on President Vladimir Putin is working.
"[Mantaining pressure] will require some real hardship and difficulties on our parts," said Powell.
"But we will have to swallow that and we have to keep the economic, military, political and diplomatic support going for Ukraine."
Powell’s remarks were delivered to an audience of Ukraine's top leadership and international supporters.
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His discussion of hardship was in reference to ongoing Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure and potential oil and gas shortages in Europe due to cutting off Russian supplies.
The European Union is planning a total phase away from Russian gas imports, as it currently still imports 12% of its gas from Russia.
However, current gas shortages due to the war in Iran may cause this plan to “falter,” according to the European Court of Auditors.
Ukrainians have also incurred numerous fatal drone attacks over the past months, due in part to a shortage of long-range Patriot air defence missiles which are very expensive to produce and deliver.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s first visit abroad was to Ukraine, where he signed a deal to hand over British blueprints for Scalp long-range missiles to aid Ukrainian production and supply.
However, Powell, who helped to negotiate the Good Friday Agreement, was largely optimistic about the long-term prospects of the war.
The security expert said that Ukraine has “already won” the full-scale invasion, which is now in its fifth year, because Russia will not be able to take over the whole country.
Powell also said that US President Trump, whose support for Ukraine has not been clear-cut, is “in a very different place” now that Ukraine appears to have the upper hand.
"He sees that Ukraine is doing better and therefore he is not leaning in the direction of Putin in the way that he was previously. I think that's a really big asset,” said the adviser.
This statement comes after the president sent an envoy to Moscow to meet with Putin.
This sentiment is not felt by Putin, who told journalists earlier this month: "I have no doubt that the enemy will crumble."
Powell referred to attempting to predict the end of the war as a "mug's game," stating that Europe should be ready to negotiate a settlement "when we least expect it."
