Munich summit: Rishi Sunak kicks off Munich summit with rallying cry to NATO allies

Rishi Sunak and US vice president Kamala Harris have reaffirmed their support for Ukraine and the Western alliance at the Munich Security Conference in Germany today. 

Mr Sunak told the conference it was 'time to double down' on support for Ukraine by providing more artillery, armoured vehicles and air defence.

The Prime Minister met with German Chancellor Olaf Sholz this morning as leaders discussed further support to help Ukraine battle Vladimir Putin's invasion.

Meanwhile, US vice president Kamala Harris told the summit US support for Ukraine would 'not waver' and Russia would be held to account for its 'crimes against humanity'. 

Mrs Harris also warned China against providing 'lethal' support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 

Mr Sunak told the conference it was 'time to double down' on support for Ukraine by providing more artillery, armoured vehicles and air defence

US vice president Kamala Harris addressed the conference and said US support for Ukraine would 'not waver' and Russia would be held to account for its 'crimes against humanity'

Mr Sunak said: 'Together we must help Ukraine to shield its cities from Russian bombs and Iranian drones.

'It's why we're working with allies to give Ukraine the most advanced air defence systems and build the air force they need to defend their nation.

'Of course, the United Kingdom stands ready to help any country provide planes that Ukraine can use today. 

'But we must also train Ukrainian pilots to use the most advanced jets. That's exactly what Britain is doing so Ukraine has the capability to defend its security in the long term.'

He also said the United Kingdom would be the first country to provide Ukraine with longer-range weapons. 

Mr Sunak continued: 'To win the peace, we also need to rebuild the international order on which our collective security depends.

'First, that means upholding international law. The whole world must hold Russia to account. 

'We must see justice through the ICC for their sickening war crimes committed, whether in Bucha, Irpen, Mariupol or beyond, and Russia must also be held to account for the terrible destruction it has inflicted.'

It comes after Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to Britain, Paris and Brussels last week where he urged the West to provide F-16 fighter jets for his air force.

Mr Sunak said the United Kingdom would be the first country to provide Ukraine with longer-range weapons.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (right) and Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki (left) shake hands ahead of bilateral talks at the Munich Security Conference in Germany

Mr Sunak told reporters he wants 'everyone to follow' the UK's lead in providing Ukraine with support in its fight against Russia's invasion

US vice-president Kamala Harris called out Russian 'crimes against humanity' committed in Ukraine. 

She said: 'The United States has formally determined that Russia has committed crimes against humanity. 

'And I say to all those who have perpetrated these crimes, and to their superiors who are complicit in those crimes, you will be held to account.'

She added: 'If Putin thinks he can wait us out, he is badly mistaken. Time is not on his side.'

The Munich Security Conference brings together like-minded top officials from around the world to discuss urgent security issues like the continuing Ukraine war and US-China relations.

Mr Sunak and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met this afternoon and 'agreed on the importance of giving Ukraine the military momentum' it needs to win against Russia.

A Downing Street spokesman said: 'President of the Commission von der Leyen and Prime Minister Sunak updated one another on their discussions with President Zelensky last week. 

'They agreed on the importance of giving Ukraine the military momentum they need to secure victory against tyranny.

'The leaders welcomed the powerful alignment in EU and UK support for Ukraine over the past year, as exemplified both by our record military and economic aid to the country, and the co-ordination of the most substantial and unprecedented sanctions packages in response to Putin's war of aggression against Ukraine.

'They agreed EU and UK efforts to train Ukrainian troops will make a real difference on the battlefield.

'The President and the Prime Minister expressed their confidence that the spirit of co-operation with which we have responded to Putin's brutal war in Ukraine should also be reflected across the full range of issues the EU and the UK face together.'

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen suggested the EU should join forces with the bloc's defence industry to speed up and scale up the production of ammunition badly needed on the battlefield in Ukraine

It comes after Mrs von der Leyen said the EU should join forces with the bloc's defence industry to speed up the production of ammunition badly needed on the battlefield in Ukraine.

She suggested the bloc should do what it did during the pandemic to prepare for the large-scale production of a COVID vaccine. 

Mrs von der Leyen added: 'We could think of, for example, advanced purchase agreements that give the defence industry the possibility to invest in production lines now to be faster and to increase the amount they can deliver.

'It is now the time, really, to speed up the production, and to scale up the production of standardized products that Ukraine needs desperately, for example standardized ammunition.'

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and US vice president Kamala Harris discussed Russian aggression towards Ukraine as well as wider issues in the Indo-Pacific region

Mr Sunak also met US vice president Kamala Harris after they both addressed the conference earlier this afternoon.

They discussed Russian aggression towards Ukraine as well as wider issues in the Indo-Pacific region.

A Downing Street spokesman said: 'They paid tribute to the enduring strength of the UK-US relationship, which protects our people and makes the world a more secure place.

'They agreed there is no clearer evidence of that than in Ukraine, where we are the country's two closest international partners.' 

'The leaders also spoke about the Aukus alliance, where we are working alongside Australia to make the Indo-Pacific region more stable and secure.'

The German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (right) also agreed with Mr Sunak to 'sustain the record level of international support for Ukraine'

The Prime Minister's first bilateral meeting of the day was with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz - when they agreed to 'sustain the record level of international support for Ukraine' and discussed their support for Swedish and Finnish accession to NATO in a bilateral meeting before the main conference.

Meanwhile, pro-Ukrainian and pro-Russian demonstrators gathered outside the security conference - with some showing support for increased military support - and other criticising it. 

Pro-Ukrainian and pro-Russian demonstrators gathered outside the security conference - with some showing support for increased military support - and other criticising it

A pro-Ukrainian demonstrator holds an 'Arm Ukraine now' flag outside the Munich Security Conference 

An anti-war peace float brought by demonstrators outside the Munich Security Conference today

Former Secretary General of NATO Javier Solana (right) greets former Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko (left) outside the Munich Security Conference

Earlier this morning, China's top diplomat Wang Yi commented on a row between his country and the US, after Washington shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon which flew over American territory.

He denounced Washington's handling of the incident as 'hysterical' and 'absurd', repeating Beijing's assertion that the craft was just an unmanned civilian airship which blew off course.

Wang went on to question whether the US planned to shoot down every balloon in Earth's skies. 

China's Director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission Wang Yi questioned whether the US planned to shoot down every balloon in Earth's skies

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged world leaders to speed up support for his nation when he addressed the conference by video link yesterday.

Kyiv fears crucial supplies will arrive too slowly to defend against new offensives.

Mr Zelensky said: 'We need to hurry up. We need speed – speed of our agreements, speed of our delivery, speed of decisions to limit Russian potential.'

Speaking after Mr Zelensky, Mr Macron urged allies to 'intensify our support' for Ukraine to aid its forces in launching a counter-offensive.

Mr Scholz insisted German support was 'designed to last' but took a veiled swipe at other allies over faltering efforts to deliver promised tanks to Ukraine.

Berlin has vowed to send some of the most modern armaments from its military stocks but is struggling to persuade allies to do the same.

Mr Scholz said: 'Those who can send such battle tanks should really do so now.'