Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to visit Britain on Wednesday for his second foreign visit since the Russian invasion began almost a year ago, the British government has announced, which has pledged to train Ukrainian fighter pilots.
Zelenskyy will in the afternoon of King Charles III. received, said Buckingham Palace.
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Zelensky will meet British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, address Parliament and visit Ukrainian troops-in-training during the visit, Downing Street said in a statement.
This is the first time Volodymyr Zelenskyy has left Ukrainian territory for a few hours since his visit to Washington on December 21. He was then received at the White House by President Joe Biden and addressed the US Congress, where elected representatives from both houses gave him a standing ovation.
His visit to the UK comes as the Ukrainian president, who is expected in Brussels on Thursday, according to European sources, is asking for Western military aid to be stepped up and accelerated.
“Leaders will discuss a two-pronged approach to British support for Ukraine, starting with an immediate increase in shipments of military equipment to counter Russia’s spring offensive and stepping up with long-term support,” Downing Street said.
Rishi Sunak also intends to “offer to strengthen the UK’s training offer for Ukrainian troops, particularly by extending it to include fighter pilots, to ensure Ukraine can defend its airspace in the future.”
“This training will enable pilots to fly sophisticated fighter jets that meet NATO standards,” Kyiv claims, it adds.
Britain is one of Kiev’s staunchest supporters, providing £2.3 billion (€2.5 billion) in military aid last year. The government has pledged to keep that level of aid, second in the world after the United States, at the same level this year.
London provided the Ukrainian army with lethal weapons even before the invasion began on February 24, 2022, and was the first country in January to announce its intention to send heavy tanks there.
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson became the first G7 country leader to visit Kyiv in April. He made three visits there before leaving Downing Street in September, before recently returning for a private visit.
His successor Rishi Sunak traveled to the Ukrainian capital in mid-November, where he assured Mr Zelenskyy of British support “until Ukraine wins”. He also announced new military aid, particularly in the form of anti-aircraft guns.
While it has since agreed to supply 14 Challenger 2 tanks, it has been reluctant to supply fighter jets, saying last week it would take “months” or even “years” of pilot training.
Visiting Washington last week, Boris Johnson, who was close to Mr Zelenskyy, urged the UK government to “give Ukrainians what they need as soon as possible”.
Several European sources told AFP a possible visit by Mr Zelensky to Brussels on Thursday for a meeting of the 27th EU leaders.
The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, “has invited (Volodymyr) Zelenskyy to personally attend a future (EU) summit. For security reasons, no further information will be disclosed,” said a spokesman for the European leader Barend Leyts on Twitter.