Zelensky Visits UK Asks for Fighter Jets

Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky in a surprise visit to London on Wednesday met with King Charles III and the UK Prime Minister and urged allies to send combat aircraft to his war-torn country as Britain had promised earlier.

As the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion looms and Ukraine braces for a fresh Russian offensive in the east, Zelensky is pushing ever harder for friendly nations to send tanks, jets, and missiles.

Zelensky, dressed in his usual green fatigues, received waves of applause as he made a historic address to both the lower and upper houses of the British parliament on what is only his second overseas trip since the war began.

“I appeal to you and the world… for combat aircraft for Ukraine, wings for freedom,” he said.

“The United Kingdom is marching with us towards the most… important victory of our lifetime it will be a victory over the very idea of the war.”

Zelensky kicked off his visit at 10 Downing Street where he held talks with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. He is also met King Charles III and will visit Ukrainian troops receiving military training in southwest England.

Britain says it has already trained 10,000 Ukrainian troops “to battle readiness” over the past six months and will train a further 20,000 this year.

The new UK training will “ensure pilots are able to fly sophisticated NATO-standard fighter jets in the future”, the Britain said, although Western countries have so far ruled out sending jets themselves.

Sunak Promised Accelerated Support for Ukraine

After meeting Zelensky, Sunak told parliament the UK would continue “to support Ukraine to ensure decisive military victory on the battlefield, this year”.

“(Russian President) Vladimir Putin’s aggression cannot be seen in any way to have been successful, and that’s why we have accelerated and increased our support militarily for Ukraine,” Sunak said.

Zelensky is due in Paris late Wednesday, according to a French government source. EU officials are hoping he will head to Brussels on Thursday.

In December, Zelensky was given a hero’s welcome in Washington on his first overseas visit since the war began.

Moscow said Tuesday that Russian forces were advancing towards Bakhmut and Vugledar — two key centres of fighting in the eastern Donetsk region of Ukraine, now the flashpoint of the war.