British Prime Minister of Foreign Affairs Liz Truss Pledges Support for Ukraine

JAKARTA - British Prime Minister Liz Truss will pledge at a UN summit to match or exceed the 2.3 billion pounds of military aid spent on Ukraine by 2022 next year, doubling her support for Kyiv after the Russian invasion.

PM Truss, on her first international visit as prime minister, will call on other leaders at the UN General Assembly meeting in New York, the United States to help end Russia's energy grip on Europe, saying it has allowed too many lives to be 'manipulated'.

In New York, where PM Truss will meet with US President Joe Biden on Wednesday, the British leader will again pledge his support for Ukraine, which has been seen as successful in pushing back Russian troops with Western military aid.

"My message to the Ukrainian people is this: Britain will continue to be right behind you at every step. Your security is our security", she said in a statement before his speech at the summit, which began on Thursday.

"Too many lives, in Ukraine, in Europe, and around the world, are being manipulated by dependence on Russian energy", she added.

"We need to work together to end this once and for all", Truss said.

Britain says it is the second largest military donor to Ukraine, providing £2.3 billion by 2022. Next year the number will be determined by the needs of the Ukrainian army, although it is expected to include equipment such as rocket artillery systems.

Separately, David Lammy, Labor's foreign policy chief said Truss had to "bring Britain back from the cold and start rebuilding our country's diplomatic influence".