British PM Rishi Sunak meets Ukraine’s President Zelensky in Kyiv


FE Team | Published: November 19, 2022 20:14:15 | Updated: November 21, 2022 18:44:20


Photo: Ukraine President's Office

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has met Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky on his first visit to Kyiv since taking office.

The meeting was held to "confirm continued UK support" for Ukraine, a spokesperson at the British prime minister’s office said on Saturday.

"We discussed the most important issues both for our countries and for global security," Zelensky wrote on Telegram following the meeting, according to BBC.

"We are stronger and we will achieve the desired results," he added.

Rishi Sunak said it was "deeply humbling" to be in Kyiv and pledged that the UK would continue to stand by Ukrainians in their fight.

During the meeting with Zelensky, he said the UK would provide a major new package of air defence to help protect Ukrainian civilians and the country's national infrastructure from Russian strikes.

Ukraine has been requesting assistance from Western nations over recent months in the wake of intense Russian aerial attacks on Kyiv and across the country.

The £50 million-package of defence aid comprises 125 anti-aircraft guns and technology to counter deadly Iranian-supplied drones, including dozens of radars and anti-drone electronic warfare capability.

It follows more than 1,000 new anti-air missiles announced by the UK's Defence Secretary Ben Wallace earlier this month.

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