Ukraine’s Zelenskyy arrives in U.K. seeking more weapons to battle Russia – National | 24CA News

Britain introduced a direct surge of navy deliveries to Ukraine to assist it fend off an intensifying Russian offensive and pledged to coach its pilots as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in London on a uncommon go to overseas.

Zelenskyy was as a result of journey onto Brussels on Thursday the place the European Union is holding a summit, in response to an EU diplomat. London was his first cease on solely his second journey overseas since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24 after a go to to the United States in December.

In Britain, he’ll meet Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and King Charles and tackle parliament.

“The United Kingdom was one of the first to come to Ukraine’s aid. And today I’m in London to personally thank the British people for their support and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for his leadership,” Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram, underneath a photograph of him and Sunak on the airport.

Britain, which has been coaching Ukrainian troops, stated the additional coaching would guarantee Ukrainian pilots have been capable of fly “sophisticated NATO-standard fighter jets in the future,” including the transfer was “part of long-term investment in their military.”

The wording appeared to recommend that Britain had not but modified its thoughts on whether or not to supply Kyiv with the fighter jets it has requested for – one thing the federal government has stated just isn’t the proper strategy for now.

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Sunak stated the go to was a testomony “to his country’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.”

Zelenskyy will meet King Charles afterward Wednesday, a spokesperson for Buckingham Palace stated. Charles, who has visited a number of organizations who assist Ukrainians in Britain, has known as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine a “brutal aggression.”

Britain additionally set out additional sanctions to focus on those that have helped Russian President Vladimir Putin, together with producers of navy gear and eight people who helped “maintain wealth and power amongst Kremlin elites.”

Zelenskyy, who had shut ties with ex-prime minister Boris Johnson, visits Britain at a time when Russia is bringing tens of hundreds of just lately mobilized troops to the battlefield to attempt to break via Ukrainian defenses in jap Ukraine.

Ukraine’s allies have promised a whole lot of tanks and armored autos to assist Kyiv resist the assault and recapture territory, however have stated it’ll take time to coach Ukrainian forces to make use of them successfully.

Since Johnson resigned final 12 months, Sunak has pledged to proceed to help Ukraine, visiting Kyiv in November to inform the Ukrainian chief: “We are with you all the way.”

In London, he’s anticipated to inform Zelenskyy he’ll speed up the supply of navy gear to Ukraine.

Britain has skilled 10,000 Ukrainian troops delivered to battle readiness within the final six months and can practice an extra 20,000 troopers this 12 months, the federal government stated.

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Last week, Ukrainian troops arrived in Britain to learn to command Challenger 2 tanks and Sunak will provide to supply Ukraine with longer vary capabilities, the assertion stated.

London has to this point refused to ship fighter jets, saying it was not “the right approach” for now. But defence minister Ben Wallace has recommended that stance might change.

Sunak’s spokesman stated final week that the quickest a pilot might study to fly a British fighter jet was 35 months. “We will continue listening to the Ukrainians and consider what is right for the long term,” he stated.