Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived in the UK on a surprise visit, during which he will hold talks with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
This is the latest stop on Zelenskyy’s tour of European capitals, on which he has been meeting Western leaders seeking to bolster support for Ukraine ahead of an expected counter-offensive.
Germany announced 2.7 billion euros (£2.35 billion, $3 billion) of military aid to Ukraine on Saturday, its biggest such package since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the invasion in February last year, and pledged further support for Kyiv for as long as necessary.
On Sunday, France said it will send dozens of armoured vehicles and light tanks, including the AMX-10RC fighting vehicles, to Ukraine in the coming weeks.
Downing Street said on Monday that the prime minister will welcome the Ukrainian leader to his country residence Chequers as the UK continues “sustaining our support” for the war-torn country.
The Ukrainian president will be the first world leader whom Sunak has hosted at his grace-and-favour residence in Buckinghamshire.
In February, on his first trip to London since the start of the war, the Ukrainian leader attended an audience with King Charles and addressed Parliament.
‘Crucial Moment’
Zelenskyy wrote on Twitter: “Today—London. The UK is a leader when it comes to expanding our capabilities on the ground and in the air.“This cooperation will continue today. I will meet my friend Rishi. We will conduct substantive negotiations face-to-face and in delegations.”
Sunak said in a statement: “This is a crucial moment in Ukraine’s resistance to a terrible war of aggression they did not choose or provoke.
“They need the sustained support of the international community to defend against the barrage of unrelenting and indiscriminate attacks that have been their daily reality for over a year.
“We must not let them down. The front lines of Putin’s war of aggression may be in Ukraine but the fault lines stretch all over the world. It is in all our interest to ensure Ukraine succeeds and Putin’s barbarism is not rewarded.
‘Worth It’
After the United States, Britain has been one of the largest suppliers of military aid to Ukraine, contributing £2.3 billion ($2.9 billion) worth of support last year and pledging a similar amount for 2023.The latest visit comes after Sunak and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace announced that the government had agreed to authorise the donation of long-range Storm Shadow cruise missiles to Ukraine.
In January, Britain said it would send 14 of its battle tanks to Ukraine, a pledge that was followed by other nations including the United States and Germany.
Talking to LBC radio, trade minister Nigel Huddleston said the government believes the costly aid is “worth it.”
He said: “Of course that does come at considerable cost to UK taxpayers, but we believe it’s worth it because we support our friends and allies in need.
“I’m not at all surprised that President Zelenskyy will be coming here asking for more, but one thing I’ve always seen with him and any of his colleagues coming over is that they’re also very grateful for what we’ve given already.”
