Topline
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and spoke to members of Parliament ahead of a meeting with King Charles III Wednesday, in Zelensky’s second trip out of Ukraine and his first to the U.K. since Russia invaded the country one year ago.
Britain’s King Charles III holds an audience with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, right, at … [+]
Key Facts
Zelensky landed at London Stansted Airport on a Royal Air Force plane just before 11 a.m. on Wednesday, before being greeted on the tarmac by Sunak.
Zelensky addressed U.K. lawmakers in Westminster, central London, before heading to Buckingham Palace to meet with King Charles III at around 3 p.m. local time.
A surprise visit to the UK—and the Ukrainian president’s second official trip out of Ukraine in the last year, following a visit to the U.S. in December—was arranged so that Zelensky could “personally thank the British people for their support” and to expand British military support to Ukraine.
Sunak said Britain—which has trained some 10,000 Ukrainian troops in the last six months—will expand its training for Ukrainian forces to ensure “Ukraine has a military able to defend its interests well into the future.”
Zelensky’s visit to the UK is complemented by new sanctions announced by the British government that will “accelerate the economic pressure” on Russia, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, gestures as he welcomes Zelensky at Downing Street in London.
Zelensky meets Sunak inside Downing Street
Zelensky addresses members of the British Parliament.
Zelensky addresses members of British Parliament at Westminster Hall.
Speaker of the House of Commons, Lindsay Hoyle, left, and Speaker of the House of Lords, Lord … [+]
Labour leader Keir Starmer, right, meets with Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Speaker’s House in the Palace … [+]
Britain’s King Charles III holds an audience with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at … [+]
Crucial Quote
While addressing members of Parliament at Westminster Hall, Zelensky thanked the British government as it “has stood with Kyiv since Day 1,” adding “we know that freedom will win.”
Big Number
$2.5 billion. That’s how much the U.K. has sent to Ukraine in weapons and equipment, according to the Associated Press. This includes a recent donation of 10 Challenger 2 tanks.
What To Watch For
Zelensky is expected to meet with European Union leaders in a trip to Brussels, Belgium, on Thursday.
Key Background
A trip out of Ukraine is rare for Zelensky, who has only left the country twice since Russia’s invasion began in February 2022. Zelensky has met with Sunak and one of his predecessors, Boris Johnson, who made a trip to Kyiv on a surprise trip last month pledging that Britain would “stick by Ukraine as long as it takes.” Liz Truss, whose tenure as prime minister last just over six weeks, never made the trip. Zelensky last addressed the British Parliament via video in March 2022 and urged the U.K. to sanction Russia. In a December 2022 speech to Congress, Zelensky met with President Joe Biden and thanked the U.S. for its support, though he said the $21.1 billion it had already offered in security assistance was “not really” enough.
Further Reading
Zelensky Thanks U.S. In Speech To Congress—But Calls For More Aid To Ukraine (Forbes)
In Photos: Zelensky Meets With Biden In D.C. Ahead Of Historic Speech To Congress (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2023/02/08/in-photos-zelensky-meets-king-charles-iii-and-addresses-british-parliament-in-surprise-visit-to-uk/