Zelensky arrives in the UK for military aid talks
LONDON — Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged on Monday to deliver a large package of missiles and attack drones to Ukraine ahead of a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky, who over the weekend pledged billions of dollars in additional military aid from European allies.
Mr Zelensky, who has been on a whirlwind tour of Europe to garner support ahead of a counter-offensive against Russia, shared a hug with Mr Sunak as he landed at the British leader’s country retreat, Checkers, outside London on Monday morning . The Ukrainian president described the meetings as “substantial negotiations” and referred to Mr Sunak in a tweet as “my friend Rishi.”
In a statement, the Prime Minister’s office said that in addition to the cruise missiles announced last week, Britain would provide “hundreds of air defense missiles and other unmanned aerial systems”, including long-range drones.
Britain provided about $2.8 billion in military aid to Ukraine in 2022, making it one of Kiev’s largest lenders. Mr Sunak also pledged to begin training Ukrainian fighter pilots this summer, although he has not yet committed to sending British fighter jets to Ukraine. Instead, Britain has said it will help other fighter-supply countries by providing support systems.
Mr Zelensky’s visit to Britain comes after he traveled to Italy, Germany and France over the weekend, meeting Pope Francis and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome, Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin and President Emmanuel Macron in Paris. On Saturday, Germany announced an arms package worth nearly $3 billion and on Sunday, France also promised more weapons for Ukraine.
The British government confirmed last week that it would begin supplying long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine, continuing its policy of leading the way in supplying the Ukrainian military with heavier weapons to fight Russian forces.
Known as Storm Shadow and with a range of more than 250 kilometres, the missiles would “enable Ukraine to push back Russian forces stationed on Ukrainian sovereign territory,” the British defense minister said. Ben Wallace.
Britain’s aggressive approach has often acted as a catalyst for other Western countries to supply Ukraine with heavier weapons. The decision to send a squadron of Challenger 2 main battle tanks presaged decisions by Germany and the United States to send more advanced tanks.
“This is a pivotal moment in Ukraine’s resistance to a terrible war of aggression that they did not choose or provoke,” Sunak said in a statement. “They need the continued support of the international community to defend themselves against the barrage of relentless and indiscriminate attacks that have been their daily reality for more than a year.”
Mr Zelensky’s tour comes just before European leaders hold a summit this week in Reykjavik, Iceland. Later in the week, leaders will meet again in Japan for a meeting of the Group of Seven Nations, where the war is likely to feature prominently in the talks.
The Ukrainian leader was visiting for the last time Britain in February he gave an emotional speech in Westminster Hall, where he implored NATO countries to supply Ukraine with fighter jets. Mr Sunak has said fighter jets are on the table but has not taken that step yet.