Zelenskyy to meet Sunak in surprise London trip

 

Zelenskyy to meet Sunak in surprise London trip

 

Ukrainian president arrives in UK on European tour.

 

BY ANDREW MCDONALD

MAY 15, 2023 9:43 AM CET

https://www.politico.eu/article/volodymyr-zelenskyy-rishi-sunak-ukraine-russia-war-london-trip/

 

LONDON — Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet with Rishi Sunak in London for “substantive negotiations” Monday, the Ukrainian president said as he arrived in the U.K. capital for a surprise visit.

 

As part of the latest stop in a European tour that has seen Zelenskyy take meetings with leaders in Berlin, Rome and Paris, he will meet with the U.K. prime minister at his Chequers country retreat later Monday.

 

The flurry of diplomatic visits comes as Kyiv attempts to shore up support among Western allies, ahead of a widely expected counteroffensive to help liberate Russian-occupied territory in Ukraine’s east. Both France and Berlin committed more military aid packages during Zelenskyy’s visits over the weekend.

 

“Today — London. The U.K. is a leader when it comes to expanding our capabilities on the ground and in the air,” Zelenskyy tweeted.

 

“I will meet my friend Rishi. We will conduct substantive negotiations face-to-face and in delegations,” he added.

 

Sunak will confirm Monday the provision to Ukraine of hundreds of air defense missiles and further uncrewed aerial systems, including long-range attack drones.

 

Any further aid will follow the announcement last week from U.K. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace that Storm Shadow missiles, which grants Kyiv the ability to strike targets in Russian-occupied Crimea, were being delivered to Ukraine.

 

“This is a crucial moment in Ukraine’s resistance to a terrible war of aggression they did not choose or provoke,” Sunak said Monday. “That is why the U.K. is sustaining our support to Ukraine — from tanks to training, ammunition to armored vehicles.”

 

Zelenskyy visited London in February for the first time since conflict broke out last year. The Ukrainian president attended an audience with King Charles III and addressed the U.K. parliament, while also meeting Sunak in Downing Street.