“I am honored to lead the British Embassy in supporting Ukraine in its fight for freedom and democracy,” Crompton said during the ceremony in St. Sophia Cathedral. “The courage and determination of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the Ukrainian people is a constant source of inspiration. It is a great privilege to be here in Ukraine, standing alongside them.”
As the diplomat pointed out, Ukraine defends the international principles “underlying the security of Great Britain and its own.”
“Our relationship has never been as close and important as it is now. The ties between Britain and Ukraine are unshakable. I am delighted that I will be living and working in Ukraine – and further strengthening our century-long partnership,” Crompton said.
Zelensky posted a video of the ceremony on Facebook.
They said that, in addition to the British Ambassador, the appointed ambassadors of New Zealand, Chile and Somalia are also starting their diplomatic mission in Ukraine.
“We spoke with each individual separately and discussed key areas of cooperation. Among the topics were support for Ukraine, increasing sanctions pressure on Russia, and the development of bilateral relations,” Zelensky wrote.
The OP clarified that the President accepted credentials from the newly appointed ambassadors: Crompton (Great Britain), Paul Bellentine (New Zealand), Eliseo Rodrigo Ruiz Ortiz (Chile) and Mohamed Abdullagi Ahmed (Somalia).
During a conversation with Crompton, Zelensky thanked Britain for its support for Ukraine.
“The parties discussed key priorities: military and energy support, increasing sanctions pressure on Russia,” the statement said.
Zelensky also emphasized that Ukraine needs additional air defense systems and missiles for them, as well as interceptors, the OP informed.
Context
On September 10, the British Ambassador in Kyiv, Martin Harris, reported to X that he had completed his work in Ukraine after two years in office (began his diplomatic mission on September 11, 2023).
Before Harris, the British Embassy in Ukraine was headed by Melinda Simmons for four years.
Crompton began his career at the British Foreign Office in 1995. In particular, he headed departments on Iran (he was also deputy ambassador in Tehran in 1999–2003), Iraq, and worked as an adviser to the Department of Foreign and Security Policy of the British Embassy in Washington (2007–2011).
Prior to his appointment as Ambassador to Ukraine, Crompton served as British Ambassador to Saudi Arabia for five years. Before that, from 2015 to 2019, he headed the British Foreign Office Directorate for the Middle East and North Africa. In 2014, when the Russian war against Ukraine began, Crompton headed the British Foreign Office's directorate for Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
