TL;DR
Liz Truss consistently championed robust, unyielding military and diplomatic support for Ukraine against Russian aggression.
Key Points
She pledged continued UK support for Ukraine during her first international trip as Prime Minister in September 2022.
As Foreign Secretary, she was vocal in urging allies to provide heavier weaponry to help Ukraine prevail against Russia.
She reaffirmed to the President of Ukraine in September 2022 that the UK would not rest until Ukraine prevails.
Summary
Liz Truss, both as Foreign Secretary and later as Prime Minister, adopted an exceptionally hardline stance against Russia's invasion of Ukraine, consistently advocating for maximum pressure and comprehensive support for Kyiv. Her core position, often articulated on the international stage, was that Western nations must offer unwavering military, financial, and humanitarian aid, and that Russia must face severe consequences for its actions. This commitment was a prominent feature of her foreign policy portfolio, evident in her public statements and her first international engagements as Prime Minister. She frequently emphasized that a failure to support Ukraine decisively would embolden authoritarian regimes globally.
This stance was framed within a broader worldview, where she often linked the situation in Ukraine to global security and the maintenance of the rules-based international order. Her approach suggested that appeasement was not an option, calling for a clear victory for Ukraine. While her premiership was short, her dedication to the Ukrainian cause served as a defining element of her brief tenure on the world stage, contrasting with those who may have favored expedited peace negotiations or a less confrontational policy toward Moscow.
Key Quotes
"We will keep going further and faster to push Russia out of the whole of Ukraine."
... "we will sustain or increase our military support to Ukraine, for as long as it takes"
Frequently Asked Questions
Liz Truss holds a strongly supportive position regarding Ukraine's defense against the Russian invasion. She has consistently advocated for providing robust military and financial assistance to Kyiv. Her view emphasizes the need for Ukraine to achieve a clear victory to uphold international norms.
Yes, Liz Truss spoke with the President of Ukraine via telephone on 6 September 2022, while she was Prime Minister. During their call, she reaffirmed the UK's commitment to supporting Ukraine's sovereignty and security. This call followed previous engagement when she was Foreign Secretary.
Liz Truss told the UN General Assembly that the UK and its allies would not rest until Ukraine prevails in the conflict. She characterized the war as a fight for global security and against authoritarianism. This speech reiterated her long-standing commitment to the Ukrainian cause.
Sources9
Liz Truss: From Ukraine hawk to post-PM political comeback?
Liz Truss’s Speech to the U.N. General Assembly
Prime Minister Liz Truss’s call with President Zelenskyy, 6 September 2022
Liz Truss doesn’t care about stopping the war in Ukraine – Novara Media
Liz Truss helped derail chances of peace in Ukraine – now she must back negotiations
Liz Truss on Ukraine: war in Ukraine is a fight for freedom, says PM
UK's Truss says Russia's war in Ukraine is a 'sniping' attack on global security
First international trip: Britain's Truss pledges Ukraine support
We will not rest until Ukraine prevails, UK Prime Minister tells UN
* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.