Instead of Christmas speech: Sunak calls government employees Russia has too little ammunition and missiles in Ukraine + Putin speaks of “war” for the first time

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has waived the traditional Christmas speech in the face of a massive strike wave in the UK. Instead, he surprised several government employees with personal calls, Downing Street said. Sunak tweeted on Saturday: “To all the Brits working over Christmas – thank you. Whether you’re in Mogadishu or Milton Keynes I am personally grateful to you for your efforts.”

According to commentators, Sunak wanted to make clear the great value he attaches to public service. The unions accuse the government of refusing reasonable wage increases.

Christmas in the UK this year has been overshadowed by numerous strikes. Many people have not received any Christmas mail or parcels because Royal Mail employees have been off work for weeks. Strikes on the railways and among border officials make it difficult to visit relatives. Strikes are also common in many other sectors, such as healthcare.

According to the government, Sunak called diplomats in Somalia, Pakistan and Ukraine, as well as the head of a government-sponsored charity in London. He also mentioned the crew of the icebreaker “HMS Protector”, which is currently on duty around the South Sandwich Islands in Antarctica and supplies scientists there, among other things.

Sunak has been in office since October. The 42-year-old wanted to spend his first Christmas as prime minister in his constituency of Richmond in the northern English county of North Yorkshire. (saw/sda/dpa)