New UK PM Rishi Sunak takes to world stage and starts round of calls with global leaders

New British PM takes calls with Joe Biden, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Emmanuel Macron

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the new UK prime minister. AP

The UK's support for Ukraine will be as “strong as ever”, new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in their first call.

Mr Sunak said the UK’s support would for Kyiv would continue under his leadership, following his predecessors Boris Johnson and Liz Truss.

Calling it a “privilege” to speak to Mr Zelenskyy, who earlier sent him congratulations on becoming the new prime minister, Mr Sunak tweeted: “Both he and the Ukrainian people can count on the UK’s continued solidarity and support.

“We will always stand with Ukraine.”

Mr Zelenskyy, in a tweet, called it an “excellent conversation”, with the two agreeing to “write a new chapter” in relations between the two countries.

Speaking outside Number 10 on Tuesday, Mr Sunak referred to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine twice, saying: “Putin’s war in Ukraine has destabilised energy markets and supply chains the world over.”

Downing Street said the pair spoke on Tuesday evening “to underline the United Kingdom’s steadfast support for Ukraine”.

“The prime minister said the United Kingdom’s support for Ukraine would be as strong as ever under his premiership, and President Zelenskyy could count on his government to stand in continued solidarity.

“The prime minister also noted the importance of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s work in Ukraine to ensure nuclear safety and provide transparency around any disinformation.

“Both leaders agreed on the need to continue to place pressure on Putin’s barbaric regime through continued economic sanctions.

“President Zelenskyy congratulated the prime minister on his appointment and wished him a happy Diwali. The prime minister thanked him and said he hoped they would see each other in person soon.”

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In a congratulatory message to Mr Sunak earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron said the two countries would work together to tackle the challenge of the war in Ukraine.

Ms Truss was widely criticised after she declined to say whether Mr Macron was a “friend or foe” when asked during the previous Tory leadership contest.

Mr Macron later suggested it was a “problem” if Britain could not call itself a friend of France.

Ms Truss eventually hailed him as a friend when the pair met at the first summit of the European Political Community in Prague.

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In his message to Mr Sunak, Mr Macron tweeted: “Congratulations to Rishi Sunak, who has become Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

“Together we will continue working to tackle the challenges of the moment, including the war in Ukraine and its many consequences for Europe and the world.”

UAE president Sheikh Mohamed also sent a message of congratulations to the new leader, saying he looked forward to future collaborations between both countries.

“Congratulations to Rishi Sunak on becoming Prime Minister of the United Kingdom,” Sheikh Mohamed wrote on Twitter.

“The UAE and UK share a deeply rooted history of friendship and partnership, and I look forward to building on our strong ties to benefit our two nations and our people.”

US President Joe Biden called the UK his country's “closest ally” during his first call with Mr Sunak.

The British prime minister will meet Mr Biden in the coming weeks at the Group of 20 summit in Indonesia.

Mr Biden congratulated Mr Sunak on his appointment, said a Downing Street representative.

Only in recent days has Mr Biden appeared to publicly criticise Liz Truss’s doomed economic strategy, in rare comments on UK politics by the US president.

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Relations between the two countries have been somewhat strained in recent years amid UK-EU tension over post-Brexit arrangements in Northern Ireland, with White House concerns over the impact on peace in the region.

The issue appears to have come up in the call, details released by Downing Street show. The war in Ukraine and the rising power of China were also topics of conversation.

“President Biden congratulated the prime minister on his appointment and the leaders looked forward to working closely together,” the Downing Street representative said.

“President Biden said that the UK remains America’s closest ally, and the prime minister agreed on the huge strength of the relationship.

“The leaders discussed the extent of UK-US co-operation, both bilaterally and in regions such as the Indo-Pacific where the Aukus pact forms part of our efforts to enhance stability and counter China’s malign influence.

“They reflected on the leading role our countries are playing in supporting the people of Ukraine and ensuring Putin fails in this war.

“The prime minister and President Biden also agreed on the need to ensure the people of Northern Ireland have security and prosperity through preserving the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement.

“The leaders looked forward to meeting in person at the upcoming G20 summit in Indonesia.”