LONDON — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will deal with the British Parliament on Wednesday and meet King Charles III at Buckingham Palace in what is just his second journey overseas because the Russian invasion of Ukraine virtually a yr in the past.
Washington
Zelensky in U.K. to address Parliament and meet King Charles
Zelensky may additionally go to Brussels on Thursday, based on numerous media retailers. His first worldwide journey was in December, when he traveled to Washington to handle a joint session of Congress and rally for continued American help.
Britain sees itself as taking part in a number one position on Ukraine, and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, like his predecessors Liz Truss and Boris Johnson, is an outspoken supporter. On Wednesday, Sunak pledged additional navy help, together with the coaching of Ukrainian fighter pilots. That’s nonetheless wanting the requests from Zelensky for precise fighter jets.
After the USA, Britain is the most important donor of navy help to Ukraine. In response to a latest parliamentary briefing paper, it has dedicated $2.8 billion in navy help thus far and has pledged to match that in 2023.
The U.Okay. can be main on Operation Interflex, an initiative with different allies that brings Ukrainian troops to Britain for coaching.
“As a part of right now’s talks, the Prime Minister will supply to bolster the U.Okay.’s coaching supply for Ukrainian troops, together with increasing it to fighter jet pilots to make sure Ukraine can defend its skies properly into the long run,” Downing Avenue stated in a press release.
Though that is the primary time the Ukrainian chief will deal with the British Parliament in particular person, he did communicate to lawmakers final yr by way of video and acquired a standing ovation.
A spokesman for Buckingham Palace stated Charles will maintain an viewers with Zelensky there within the afternoon.
Zelensky can even speak with Sunak in addition to the protection and safety chiefs as a part of a go to that the prime minister described as “testomony to the unbreakable friendship” between the international locations.
“Since 2014, the U.Okay. has supplied important coaching to Ukrainian forces, permitting them to defend their nation, defend their sovereignty and battle for his or her territory,” Sunak stated.
Downing Avenue additionally stated that Britain will announce additional sanctions on Wednesday that can goal “those that have helped Putin construct his private wealth, and corporations who’re taking advantage of the Kremlin’s conflict machine.”