Ukraine’s Zelenskyy to go to UK for first time since Russia’s invasion

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will go to Britain in his first journey to the UK for the reason that battle with Russia started practically a 12 months in the past.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will go to UK for the primary time since Russia’s invasion in February 2022 (File photograph)

By Associated Press: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will go to Britain on Wednesday, his first journey to the U.Okay. since Russia’s invasion started practically a 12 months in the past and solely his second confirmed journey outdoors Ukraine through the battle.

The British authorities says Zelenskyy will maintain talks with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, deal with Parliament and meet with U.Okay. navy chiefs.

The U.Okay. is among the largest navy backers of Ukraine and has despatched the nation greater than 2 billion kilos ($2.5 billion) in weapons and gear.

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The go to comes as Sunak introduced that Britain will prepare Ukrainian pilots on “NATO-standard fighter jets.” Ukraine has urged its allies to ship jets, although the U.Okay. says it’s not sensible to supply the Ukrainian navy with British warplanes.

More than 10,000 Ukrainian troops have additionally been educated at bases within the U.Okay., some on the Challenger 2 tanks that Britain is sending.

“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,” Sunak mentioned. “It also underlines our commitment to not just provide military equipment for the short term, but a long-term pledge to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine for years to come.”

Zelenskyy addressed the U.Okay. Parliament remotely in March, two weeks after the beginning of the invasion. He echoed World War II chief Winston Churchill’s well-known “never surrender” speech, vowing that Ukrainians “will fight till the end at sea, in the air. We will continue fighting for our land, whatever the cost.”

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It will probably be Zelenskyy’s second identified journey go to overseas since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24. He visited the U.S. in December.

European Union officers have been making ready for a possible go to by Zelenskyy to Brussels to coincide with a summit of the bloc this week.

Before Sunak took workplace, Zelenskyy had shaped a bond with Boris Johnson, who was one in all Ukraine’s most vocal backers whereas he was U.Okay. prime minister. Sunak took workplace in October and has pledged to take care of the U.Okay.’s help.

The go to got here as Russian forces blasted areas of japanese Ukraine with extra artillery bombardments, Ukrainian officers mentioned Wednesday, in what Kyiv authorities imagine is a part of a brand new thrust by the Kremlin’s forces earlier than the invasion anniversary.

Russian forces over the previous day launched main shelling assaults on areas close to the entrance line in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv area, killing a 74-year-old girl and wounding a 16-year-old lady within the border city of Vovchansk, native Gov. Oleh Syniehubov mentioned.

Russian forces in Ukraine are focusing their efforts on “waging a counteroffensive” within the nation’s industrial east, with the intention of taking full management of the Donetsk and Luhansk areas that make up the Donbas, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine mentioned.

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Russian troops launched assaults close to Bakhmut and Vuhledar, two mining cities within the Donetsk area which were amongst Moscow’s key targets, Ukrainian officers mentioned.

Seizing Bakhmut might severely disrupt Ukraine’s navy provide routes. It would additionally open a door for Moscow’s forces to drive towards key Ukrainian strongholds in Donetsk.

Ukrainian authorities say the Kremlin’s aim is to finish full management of the Donbas, an expansive industrial space bordering Russia. That would give Russian President Vladimir Putin a significant battlefield success after months of setbacks and assist him rally public opinion behind the battle.

Military analysts say that after a Ukrainian counteroffensive that began final summer time and recaptured giant areas from Russia, the battle has been largely static in latest months.

Russia is now additionally making an attempt to interrupt by way of Ukrainian strains close to the cities of Avdiivka and Marinka in Donetsk, in addition to close to Kreminna, a front-line city within the Luhansk area which lies alongside a key Russian provide route, the Ukrainian General Staff mentioned.

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chingkheinganbi mayengbam

Published On:

Feb 8, 2023