Ukrainian President, Volodimir Zelenskywill meet this Monday in London with the British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunakof whose government he highlighted that he is “a leader” when it comes to improving the defensive capabilities of Ukraine by land and air.
“I will meet my friend Rishi. We will do substantial negotiations face to face and with delegations”, Zelensky wrote in a message on the social network Twitter, in which he also announced that the “cooperation” between London and kyiv “will continue” this Monday as part of his trip to the British capital.
Prior to the meeting between the two leaders, Sunak said on Monday that the UK would maintain its support for Ukraine so that it can defend itself against “relentless and indiscriminate attacks” by Russia.
Sunak will meet the President of Ukraine at his country residence in checkeron the outskirts of London, after Zelensky, who has already arrived in the United Kingdom, made a tour of several European capitals in order to gather support, British official sources reported.
As reported by the agency AFPafter the meeting Sunak will confirm “the additional UK supply of hundreds of air defense missiles and more unmanned aerial systems, including hundreds of new attack drones with a range of more than 200 km,” the statement said.
“All of them will be delivered in the coming months as Ukraine prepares to intensify its resistance to the ongoing Russian invasion,” he said.
“This is a crucial moment in Ukraine’s resistance to a terrible war of aggression that was neither chosen nor provoked,” the prime minister said in a statement released by the official residence of the 10 Downing Street.
“They need the sustained support of the international community to fend off the barrage of relentless and indiscriminate attacks that have been their daily reality for over a year,” he added.
“The front line of (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s war of aggression may be in Ukraine, but the problems are spread all over the world. It is in the interest of all of us to ensure that Ukraine succeeds and that Putin’s barbarism is not rewarded,” the head of government pointed out in the note.
“That is why the UK maintains support for Ukraine, from tanks to training, ammunition and armored vehicles. And this message of solidarity will resonate loudly in all my meetings with other world leaders in the days to come,” he added.
According to the same sources, Zelensky will speak to Sunak about the meetings he has had with European leaders in recent days as Ukraine prepares to intensify military activity.
Zelensky’s surprise visit to the UK takes place before Sunak travels to Icelandto participate in the Council of Europe Summit, where he hopes to highlight the importance of strengthening European borders, addressing illegal migration and the threat posed by Russia to safeguard the continent’s security and prosperity.
Last week, the British government confirmed that it will send long-range conventional “Storm Shadows” missiles to Ukraine.
In addition, the Downing Street residence added that the prime minister is expected to confirm the dispatch of long-range drones, with a capacity to cover 200 kilometers, which will be provided to Ukraine in the coming months as the country prepares to intensify the resistance. before the Russian invasion.
The prime minister will also discuss with Zelensky what support Ukraine needs from the international community, both in terms of immediate military equipment and long-term defense, according to British sources.
Zelensky has traveled in recent days to Rome, Berlin and Paris, where he has met the pope Francisco and with the heads of government and state of Italy, Germany and France, who have pledged to continue providing military assistance to Ukraine and have promised new defense assistance packages.
The UK became the first country to commit to sending long-range weapons to Ukraine last week, with Defense Minister Ben Wallace’s announcement that London will deliver missiles to Kiev. Storm Shadow.
(With information from EFE)
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