Today, February 8, on a rare trip overseas, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in London.
Zelensky has only traveled abroad twice since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24. His first trip was to the United States in December. On Thursday, he is scheduled to arrive in Brussels for a summit of the European Union.
Zelensky makes a surprise trip to the UK and requests fighter jets, saying, “We know Russia will lose”
During his visit on Wednesday, Britain promised to train Ukrainian pilots and offered an emergency spike in military aid to Ukraine to assist it fend off a growing Russian invasion.
Zelenskiy was greeted by Sunak on the steps of Number 10 Downing Street and thanked Britain for its assistance “from the first days of the full-scale invasion” to cheers from bystanders inside and outside the British prime minister’s office.
“Thank you so much, we are proud, really, and have very good relations with Rishi,” Zelenskiy said.
Britain, which has been working with Ukrainian troops, said the extra training would ensure Ukrainian pilots were able to fly “sophisticated NATO-standard fighter jets in the future”, adding it was “part of long-term investment in their military”.
Sunak said the visit was a testament to Ukraine’s “courage, determination and fight and … to the unbreakable friendship between our two countries”.
“I am proud that today we will expand that training from soldiers to marines and fighter jet pilots, ensuring Ukraine has a military able to defend its interests well into the future.”
Zelensky, who addressed the legislature during the meeting, claimed that Russia will lose the war with the aid of London.
Later on Wednesday, Zelenskiy will see King Charles, according to a Buckingham Palace official. Charles has referred to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a “brutal attack” and has visited many organizations that assist Ukrainians in Britain.
Additional penalties were also announced by Britain against those who supported Russian President Vladimir Putin, including eight people and military equipment manufacturers who “maintained wealth and power among Kremlin insiders.”
Zelenskiy, who is good friends with former British prime minister Boris Johnson, is to the UK at a time when Russia has lately mobilized tens of thousands of troops to try to breach Ukrainian defenses in eastern and southern Ukraine.
In order to assist Kyiv fend off the attack and retake territory, Ukraine’s allies have pledged hundreds of tanks and armored vehicles, but they have also stated that it will take time to educate Ukrainian forces to use them proficiently.
According to the administration, Britain has trained 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers who were brought up to combat readiness over the past six months and will train an additional 20,000 soldiers this year.
Watch Video Below;
President Zelensky made an unannounced visit to the UK.
Prime Minister Sunak, Foreign Secretary Cleverly, and Defense Secretary Wallace greet him as he disembarks.
I love this video. 🇬🇧🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/j6nUIQSyo3
— Oleksiy Sorokin (@mrsorokaa) February 8, 2023
"Freedom will win, we know #Russia will lose," #Ukraine's President #Zelensky tells UK Parliament as he makes plea for #fighterjets pic.twitter.com/Ej4dLbLlzD
— Smriti Sharma (@SmritiSharma_) February 8, 2023
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