Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky landed within the UK early Wednesday for a surprise go to that’s anticipated to embody a trip to Buckingham Palace to meet with King Charles III.
The 45-year-old chief was greeted by UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on the tarmac of London Stansted airport after arriving on a UK Royal Air Force aircraft for solely his second trip out of Ukraine in practically a 12 months of warfare.
“Welcome to the UK, President @ZelenskyyUa,” Sunak tweeted alongside with {a photograph} of the 2 leaders embracing.
He included the extensively shared hashtag #SlavaUkraini, which means “glory to Ukraine,” alongside with ones of every nation’s flag.
Zelensky additionally posted emojis of each flags on Facebook alongside a unique photograph of him in his conventional military-colored clothes being greeted by a sharp-suited Sunak.
“The United Kingdom was one of many first to come to Ukraine’s assist. And as we speak I’m in London to personally thank the British individuals for their help and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for his management,” he wrote.
Zelensky was later photographed with the UK chief at 10 Downing Street. UK officers stated he may also handle Parliament and meet with King Charles III.
That meeting shall be this afternoon at Buckingham Palace, according to The Telegraph, which famous that members of the royal household have been “vocal supporters” of Ukraine’s plight in the course of the warfare.
Sunak’s workplace additionally stated Zelensky will meet UK army leaders and go to Ukrainian troops coaching in Britain.
Sunak stated the go to was “a testomony to his nation’s braveness, willpower and combat, and a testomony to the unbreakable friendship between our two nations.”
The go to was the Ukraine chief’s first to the UK since Russia invaded late final February, and solely his second in a foreign country in that point, following his trip to Washington D.C. in late December.
Zelensky had, nonetheless, addressed Britain’s Parliament remotely in March, two weeks after the beginning of the invasion, when he famously echoed World War II chief Winston Churchill’s well-known “by no means give up” speech, vowing that Ukrainians “will combat until the tip at sea, within the air. We will proceed preventing for our land, no matter the associated fee.”
The UK is likely one of the greatest army backers of Ukraine and has despatched the nation at the least $2.5 billion in weapons and gear.
Sunak additionally introduced that Britain will prepare Ukrainian pilots on “NATO-standard fighter jets.” More than 10,000 Ukrainian troops have additionally been skilled at British bases, some on the Challenger 2 tanks that Britain is sending.
“I’m proud that as we speak we are going to develop that coaching from troopers to marines and fighter jet pilots, making certain Ukraine has a army ready to defend its pursuits effectively into the long run,” Sunak stated.
“It additionally underlines our dedication to not simply present army gear for the brief time period, however a long-term pledge to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine for years to come.”
There is rising expectation that he’ll subsequent head to Brussels, the place European Union leaders are gathering for a summit Thursday — enabling him to meet with all main leaders of the 27-nation bloc in someday.
The EU’s legislature has slated a particular plenary session in Brussels for Thursday within the hopes that Zelensky shall be there.
The London go to got here as Russian forces blasted areas of jap Ukraine with extra artillery bombardments, Ukrainian officers stated Wednesday, in what Kyiv authorities imagine is a part of a brand new thrust by the Kremlin’s forces earlier than the invasion anniversary on Feb. 24.
“They want to have one thing to present earlier than their individuals, and have a significant want to do one thing huge, as they see it, by this date,” Ukraine’s nationwide safety chief Oleksiy Danilov stated Tuesday.
Russian forces over the previous day launched main shelling assaults on areas close to the entrance line in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv area, killing a 74-year-old lady and wounding a 16-year-old lady within the border city of Vovchansk, native Gov. Oleh Syniehubov stated.
Ukraine believes Russian President Vladimir Putin needs full management of the Donbas, an expansive industrial space bordering Russia, to give him a significant battlefield success after months of setbacks.
With Post wires
