Topline
U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson traveled to Kyiv on Saturday for an unannounced meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and to show solidarity with Ukrainians.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in an … [+]
Key Facts
A spokesperson for Johnson’s office told the BBC the two leaders will discuss the U.K.’s long-term support to Ukraine and Johnson will “set out a new package of financial and military aid.”
The Embassy of Ukraine to the U.K. tweeted a photo of Johnson and Zelensky sitting at a table with the caption, “Surprise” and the winking emoji.
Ukrainian presidential aide Andriy Sybiha posted the same photo on Facebook, and said Johnson’s visit began with a tete-a-tete meeting with Zelensky.
Johnson’s trip comes one day after the U.K. announced it would be sending about $130 million in military aid to Ukraine, including more than 800 NLAW anti-tank missiles.
Key Background
Johnson has been “desperate” to go to Ukraine to support Zelensky and the Ukrainian people, Tory party chair Oliver Dowden said in an interview last month. Johnson reportedly indicated he wanted to go to Kyiv in March, but the Guardian reported it was unlikely to happen at the time due to security concerns.
Further Reading
Boris Johnson ‘desperate’ to visit Ukraine, says Tory party chair (The Guardian)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/annakaplan/2022/04/09/boris-johnson-makes-surprise-trip-to-kyiv-to-meet-with-volodymyr-zelensky/