Rishi has shown his enduring support for Ukraine and its people by backing two North Yorkshire men who are helping the war-torn country.
The local Ukrainian community in North Yorkshire has also got behind the efforts of Mark Farrow and Stephen White who have raised the money to buy four-wheel drive vehicles and drive them to Ukraine to be converted to military ambulances.
Mr Farrow and Mr White will set off on February 27 to drive a four-wheel drive pick-up across Europe where it will be converted into an ambulance capable of transporting casualties in the eastern battle zone.
It will be the second vehicle they have purchased and driven there working with the charity Driving Ukraine.
At The Station in Richmond, the pair met Rishi and members of the Ukrainian community who came to North Yorkshire under the Homes for Ukraine visa scheme, introduced after Russia invaded in 2022.
Rishi said: “What Mark and Stephen are doing with Driving Ukraine to provide practical help for the country during its battle for survival is tremendous.
“It has been wonderful to see the support they have received from local people for what they are doing and especially so from the Ukrainian community in and around Richmond.”
Mr Farrow, of Scorton, near Richmond, said he and his friend appreciated Rishi's backing.
He said: Rishi wrote to congratulate us after our first trip to Ukraine last year and we loved being able show him what’s involved. It’s great to know we have his support and that of the local Ukrainian community.”
After signing a Yorkshire flag which Mr White and Mr Farrow will take with them to Ukraine later this month, Rishi walked over to Richmond Swimming Pool to meet Taras and Iryna Borshchenko who took on the running of the pool’s café late last year after coming to the UK under the visa scheme.
They spoke to him about how they are developing the business, which serves the customers of the pool and the adjacent health club.
Roman Pronyszn, Ukrainian Community Co-ordinator of the Richmond Refugee Support Group, said members of the community enjoyed meeting Rishi.
“They enjoyed being able to talk to him about their journeys to the UK and their hopes and fears about the future of their country,” said Mr Pronyszn. “Obviously there is a lot of uncertainty right now but we appreciate the help that Mr Sunak can provide.”
Rishi spoke of Mr Farrow and Mr White’s initiative in Parliament last week when asking the Leader of the House of Commons Lucy Powell to commend their efforts and also the voluntary work of so many people across the UK in support of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.
Fundraising page link: https://donorbox.org/marksteveukraine
