The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in the UK on a Top Secret flight and will meet with the Prime Minister and King Charles III in his first visit to Britain since the war started.
President Zelensky will address the House of Commons on Wednesday and will also visit Ukrainian troops who are being trained in the UK by the British Armed Forces in a surprise visit.
Zelensky arrived on a Boeing C-17A Globemaster III plane and arrived at Stanstead Airport at 10.23 this morning.
More than 10,000 Ukrainian troops have been trained by the UK at bases throughout Britain which includes training on the sophisticated Challenger 2 main battle tank which are to be sent to Ukraine.
Rishi Sunak has also signalled a major shift on sending fighter jets to Ukraine as officials have announced that Ukrainian pilots will be trained to fly fighter jets.
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The UK had originally said that it would take too long to train Ukrainian pilots on the F-35 and Typhoons, but officials have now said “as part of that long-term capability investment” the UK will work with international partners to “co-ordinate collective support to Ukraine’s defensive needs.”
Sunak said, “President Zelensky’s visit to the UK is a testament to his country’s courage, determination and fight, and a testament to the unbreakable friendship between our two countries.
“Since 2014, the UK has provided vital training to Ukrainian forces, allowing them to defend their country, protect their sovereignty and fight for their territory.
“I am proud that today we will expand that training from soldiers to marines and fighter jet pilots, ensuring Ukraine has a military able to defend its interests well into the future.
“It also underlines our commitment to not just provide military equipment for the short term, but a long-term pledge to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine for years to come.”
The British government have a “two-pronged” approach to supply further military equipment to help counter the Russian Army’s Spring offensive.
The fighter jet pilot programme is a “long-term capability investment” and the training will help to ensure Ukrainian pilots will be able to fly standard NATO sophisticated jets in the future should the West change their minds to send warplanes to Kyiv.
The UK operated F-35 and Typhoon jets which will not be sent to Kyiv, but the older multirole F-16s would be perfect for operations within Ukraine to fight against Russia.
This comes after Boris Johnson backs calls for the West to send F-16 fighter jets to Kyiv and urges to “give the Ukrainians what they need as fast as possible.”
Holding talks with senior politicians in Washington Johnson is trying to bolster more support for Kyiv.
Speaking to Fox News Johnson was asked about the F-16 situation, he said, “All I will say is that every time we have said it will be a mistake to give such and such an item of weaponry, we end up doing it and it ends up being the right thing for Ukraine.
“I remember being told it was the wrong idea to give them the anti-tank shoulder-launched missiles. Actually, they were indispensable and the United States – under (former US president) Donald Trump – gave them the Javelins as well.
“They were indispensable in the battles to repel the Russian tanks.
“People said that we shouldn’t give the Himars (rocket launchers). I remember having arguments about the multiple-launch rocket systems, the MLRS.
“Actually, they have proved invaluable to the Ukrainians.
“We said the same about tanks.
“All I’m saying is save time, save money, save lives. Give the Ukrainians what they need as fast as possible.”
Fox News asked the former British Prime Minister if Vladimir Putin would use nuclear weapons in Ukraine.
Johnson said, “He probably doesn’t even stop the Ukrainians if he did that – and we would put his economy into such a cryogenic paralysis that Russia wouldn’t come out of it for decades – so he’s not going to do that.”
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