Ukraine’s president, Zelenskyy has arrived in the UK for only his second wartime visit outside of his home country since Russia launched its invasion.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak welcomed Zelenskyy as he touched down at London’s Stansted Airport.
A large convoy of vehicles left the airport shortly after the plane landed for the drive to central London, where Zelenskyy will hold talks with Sunak at his official Downing Street residence.
Zelenskyy will also address the UK parliament and meet with King Charles III and British military chiefs during his visit.
Welcome to the UK, President @ZelenskyyUa.
🇬🇧🇺🇦 #SlavaUkraini pic.twitter.com/rMoBTC3ken
— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) February 8, 2023
Zelenskyy is also expected to visit Ukrainian troops training with British forces during his trip.
“President Zelenskyy’s visit to the UK is a testament to his country’s courage, determination and fight, and a testament to the unbreakable friendship between our two countries,” Sunak said in a statement.
“[This is] doubtless an opportunity for President Zelenskyy, not just a wartime leader but an absolutely relentless campaigner for international support for Ukraine,” Hull said.
Over 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers have received training at British military sites, some of them on Challenger 2 tanks that the country is supplying to Kyiv.
Concerns that Russia is preparing a significant fresh offensive to coincide with the first anniversary of the war have led to Zelenskyy’s visit.
His visit comes at a time when Kyiv is urging its allies in the West to deliver more weapons support to help Ukrainian forces push back Russia’s troops.
