BUndecancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and French President Emmanuel Macron will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Paris on Wednesday evening. The conversation takes place after Zelenskyj’s visit to London. In a speech in the British Parliament, Selenskyj thanked Britain for its support in the fight against the Russian war of aggression. “London stood by Kiev’s side from day one,” Zelenskyy said in London on Wednesday. He added that the country united all allies when it seemed absolutely impossible. The President also explicitly thanked former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who had traveled to Ukraine several times and had become a close partner of Zelenskyy.
The Ukrainian head of state made a surprise visit to the British capital on Wednesday. Hundreds of MPs, journalists and other people had gathered in Westminster Hall, the oldest part of Parliament in London. Zelenskyj was received with great, continuous applause. The President thanked him emphatically for the British arms deliveries and was confident about the outcome of the war: “We know: Freedom will win! And we know that victory will change the world. It will be a victory that the world has long needed.”
Later Selenskyj for an audience with King Charles III. at Buckingham Palace and to visit Ukrainian recruits who are being trained in Britain. Referring to Charles’ past as a fighter pilot, Zelenskyy said: “In Britain, the king is a fighter pilot – and in Ukraine today every fighter pilot is a king.” He combined his words with another request for the delivery of fighter jets. London had repeatedly pushed ahead when it came to supplying even heavier weapons, putting its allies, not least Berlin, under pressure.
“Welcome to the United Kingdom, President Zelenskyy”
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak received Zelenskyj in London earlier. “Welcome to the UK, President Zelenskyy,” Sunak wrote on Twitter on Wednesday morning. He shared a photo of himself in an intimate embrace with his Ukrainian guest. The broadcaster Sky News had previously broadcast the President’s landing at London’s Stansted Airport live.
Zelenskyy’s first and only publicly known trip abroad after the start of the Russian war of aggression took the President to Washington shortly before Christmas. Along with the United States and the EU, Great Britain is one of Ukraine’s most important supporters in its defensive struggle against Russia.
On the occasion of Zelenskyj’s visit, London announced that it would expand its training program for Ukrainian soldiers. In the past six months, around 10,000 Ukrainians have undergone military training in Britain, and another 20,000 are expected to do so this year. According to Sunak, fighter pilots and marines will also be trained in the future.
“President Zelenskyy’s visit is a testament to the courage, determination and fighting spirit of his country and a testament to the unwavering friendship between our two countries,” said the conservative politician. According to the British, the expanded training program should enable Ukrainian pilots to fly NATO fighter jets in the future. The possible delivery of such aircraft to Ukraine is currently being intensively discussed.
In the first months of the Ukraine war, Zelenskyy had already addressed many Western parliaments via video link and campaigned for support for his country – including the British House of Commons. The President is also a regular virtual guest at international summits.
After his visit to London, Zelenskyy is expected in Brussels on Thursday. The European Parliament had already said on Monday that there was a “probability of an extraordinary plenary session in the presence of the Ukrainian President”. On the same day, the heads of state and government of the EU countries will meet in Brussels for a summit. Selenskyj had been invited to personally attend a summit, said a spokesman for EU Council President Charles Michel on Monday evening.
According to their own statements, the EU and its member states have so far mobilized almost 50 billion euros for Ukraine. Numerous sanctions were also imposed on Russia. Great Britain also wanted to issue further measures to Russia on Wednesday.