UK Prime Minister Johnson meets Ukraine President Zelenskyy in Kyiv

Europe, News April 10, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson made a surprise visit to Kyiv to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

British Prime Minister Johnson’s visit was not made public and the photograph of his meeting with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy was first posted on Twitter by the Ukrainian embassy in London on April 9.

Downing Street’s press release stated that the UK prime minister traveled to Ukraine “to meet President Zelensky in person, in a show of solidarity with the Ukrainian people.”

According to Downing Street statement, the UK would provide 120 armored vehicles and anti-ship missile systems to Ukraine. British Prime Minister Johnson said that the support seeks to ensure that “Ukraine can never be bullied again, never will be blackmailed again, never will be threatened in the same way again.”

During his visit to Kyiv, Johnson paid tribute to “President Zelensky’s resolute leadership and the invincible heroism and courage of the Ukrainian people”, and said that “Ukraine has defied the odds and pushed back Russian forces from the gates of Kyiv”.

“I made clear today that the United Kingdom stands unwaveringly with them in this ongoing fight, and we are in it for the long run. We are stepping up our own military and economic support and convening a global alliance to bring this tragedy to an end, and ensure Ukraine survives and thrives as a free and sovereign nation,” Johnson said.

*^{UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy walk through central Kyiv after their talks in Ukraine. (Image Credit: Reuters)}*

UK’s prime minister also said that his country would provide additional economic support to Ukraine, making total loan guarantees to £770 million ($1 billion).

After holding a direct meeting with the Ukrainian president, Johnson posted on his Twitter account: “Today I met my friend [Ukraine’s] President Zelenskyy in Kyiv as a show of our unwavering support for the people of Ukraine. We’re setting out a new package of financial and military aid which is a testament of our commitment to his country’s struggle against Russia’s barbaric campaign.”

On April 8, the United Kingdom also announced £100 million worth of weapons for Ukraine, as Johnson announced during a press conference that the UK will provide additional defense equipment, including 800 anti-tank missiles and Starstreak anti-aircraft missiles.

Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy welcomed the UK’s “decisive and significant support” for Ukraine and called on other Western nations to intensify the pressure on Russia. “We have to exert pressure in the form of sanctions. It is time to impose a complete embargo on Russian energy resources. They should increase the amount of weapons being supplied,” Zelenskyy said.

“Other democratic Western states should follow the example of Great Britain. It’s time to impose a complete ban on Russian energy supplies, and increase the delivery of weapons to us,” Zelenskyy added.

A day earlier, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell also made visits to Ukraine to hold direct talks with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, while Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer also met with Zelenskyy on April 9 in Kyiv.