Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to visit Britain on Wednesday, his first visit to the nation since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year. He will meet Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during the trip, Sunak’s office said. Britain also announced that it would offer fighter jet training to Ukrainian troops.
Zelensky will also visit Ukrainian troops currently training in Britain and address the British parliament, the statement said.
The visit comes at a time when Kyiv is seeking more weapons from the West in its fight against Russia.
Ukrainian troops have been working with British forces as part of a programme. Sunak says he plans to expand to include the training of fighter jet pilots and marines.
“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,” Sunak said in a statement.
“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.”
Britain has trained 10,000 Ukrainian troops in the last six months and will upskill a further 20,000 soldiers this year, the government said.
After Sunak took over as Prime Minister, he pledged to continue to support Ukraine. In November, he visited Kyiv and told the Ukrainian leader: “We are with you all the way”.
Sunak is also likely to tell Zelensky on Wednesday that he will accelerate delivery of military equipment to Ukraine.
Ukraine’s allies have pledged to give Ukraine hundreds of tanks and armoured vehicles to help it break through Russian lines and recapture territory.
Meanwhile, Britain will also set out further sanctions against those who have helped Russian President Vladimir Putin “build his personal wealth, and companies who are profiting from the Kremlin’s war machine”, the statement said.
The visit comes just as Russia is bringing tens of thousands of recently mobilised troops to the battlefield in eastern Ukraine.
Kyiv has said that it is expecting Russia to launch a major new offensive on the anniversary of the invasion on February 24, before Kyiv can start using tanks and other weaponry promised by its Western partners.
(With inputs from agencies)
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