Volodymyr Zelensky today announced a surprise visit to London to hold “substantive negotiations” with Rishi Sunak.
The Ukrainian president said the UK “is a leader” in helping his country expand its land and air capabilities as the fight against Russian encroachment continues and “this cooperation will continue today”.
Downing Street said Sunak would welcome Mr Zelensky to Chequers, the Prime Minister’s grace and favor in Buckinghamshire, for the talks.
Mr Zelensky tweeted: “Today, London. The UK is a leader in expanding our capabilities on the ground and in the air. This co-operation will continue today. I will meet my friend Rishi. We will have substantive negotiations face to face. -face and in delegations”.
Sunak said today’s meeting comes at a “crucial moment in Ukraine’s resistance” and that the country’s allies “must not let them down.” He will announce that the UK is donating hundreds more air defense missiles, as well as more long-range attack drones.
Mr Zelensky has been on a tour of western Europe in recent days, meeting leaders in Italy, Germany and Paris before heading to London today.
The Ukrainian president was last in the UK for talks with Sunak in February this year, in what was his first visit to Britain since the start of the war. That trip also saw him deliver an address to both houses of Parliament and meet King Charles.
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