President Volodymyr Zelenskyy uploaded on social media a video of Rishi Sunak exiting a car in front of the Mariinskyia Palace in wintry Kyiv, before attending a series of meetings to discuss Ukraine’s military advances and reconstruction plans.
Since becoming prime minister, Rishi Sunak has been to Ukraine for the first time, meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv.
The two world leaders addressed Ukraine’s military advancements and reconstruction plans, and the British prime minister committed a £50 million package to strengthen the country’s air defense.
The package includes 125 anti-aircraft guns and equipment to counter Iranian-supplied drones, including dozens of radars designed to strengthen anti-drone electronic warfare capabilities.
In addition to increasing training for Ukraine’s armed forces, the United Kingdom will dispatch army medics and engineers to the region to provide specialized assistance.
Mr. Sunak lay flowers at a memorial for the war dead, lighted a candle at a memorial for the victims of the Holodomor famine, and met Ukrainian first responders including emergency personnel at a fire station during his visit.
A representative for No. 10 confirmed the prime minister’s journey, stating, “The prime minister is currently in Ukraine for his first visit to Kyiv, where he will meet with President Zelenskyy and reaffirm the United Kingdom’s sustained support.”
Mr. Sunak tweeted: “Britain is familiar with what it means to battle for liberty. We are by your side the entire way.”
President Zelenskyy uploaded a brief video to his official Telegram social media account depicting the British prime minister alighting from a car and walking with him along a red carpet into the Mariinskyi Palace.
As they shake hands, the two leaders appear to comment on the cold weather. Small snowflakes are falling around them.
Mr. Sunak is seen in a one-on-one meeting with the Ukrainian president and a bigger roundtable meeting with military chiefs while wearing a flag lapel pin depicting the side of the British and Ukrainian flags by side.
A message from the Ukrainian leader was included in the film “Since the beginning of the war, Ukraine and the United Kingdom have been the closest of allies.
During today’s meeting, we covered the most crucial concerns for both national and international security.
Together, we are stronger and will attain our objectives.
Mr. Zelenskyy also thanked Mr. Sunak through Twitter, writing: “With allies such as you at our side, we are confident of victory. Both of our nations understand what it means to defend liberty.”
After his visit, Mr. Sunak issued the following statement: “I am glad of the United Kingdom’s early support for Ukraine. And I’m here to declare that the United Kingdom and our friends will continue to stand with Ukraine as it works to end this barbaric war and bring about a just peace.
“While Ukraine’s military forces can fight back Russian soldiers on the ground, civilians are being blasted ruthlessly from the air. Today, we are supplying new air defense, including anti-aircraft guns, radar, and anti-drone equipment, as well as increasing humanitarian aid in preparation for the upcoming harsh winter.
“It is profoundly humbling to be in Kyiv today and to have the chance to meet folks who are doing so much while paying such a high price.”
Mr. Sunak, following in the footsteps of former prime ministers Boris Johnson and Liz Truss, has pledged the continued support of the United Kingdom for Ukraine in the face of the Russian invasion.
This week, the prime minister also utilized his participation at the G20 to denounce Vladimir Putin’s invasion with allies and other Western leaders.
The visit occurs after a missile struck a Polish village close to the Ukrainian border, killing two individuals and initially stoking fears that Russia had attacked a NATO member state.
Since the probable attribution of the hit to Ukrainian defense troops, tensions have subsided.
According to Ukrainian forces, Russia has launched more than 148 missile attacks on essential infrastructure in the past week, leaving about 10 million people without electricity.
