Nadhim Zahawi, the chancellor, has written to cabinet colleagues to offer provisional backing for credit facilities enabling British exporters to help defend and rebuild Ukraine, Sky News learns. City editor @MarkKleinmanSky The chancellor is throwing his weight behind a new £3bn export finance package aimed at bolstering the Ukrainian military's defence against Russia, and the country's future reconstruction. Sky News has learnt that Nadhim Zahawi has told the international trade secretary, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, that he supports a request for credit facilities provided by UK Export Finance (UKEF). In a letter to Ms Trevelyan and copied to the Ministry of Defence, Foreign Office and 10 Downing Street, Mr Zahawi said he considered it "essential that we continue supporting the government of Ukraine in any way we can and demonstrating our faith in the future of Ukraine". Live updates: Russia accuses US of direct involvement in war for first time A Whitehall source said the chancellor had
