President Zelenskyy will visit the UK today to meet Prime
Minister and address parliament as the
UK steps up its delivery of lethal aid into the country, and
prepares to train fighter jet pilots and marines.
The leaders will discuss a two-pronged approach to UK support for
Ukraine, starting with an immediate surge of military equipment
to the country to help counter Russia’s spring offensive, and
reinforced by long-term support.
The Prime Minister will also offer the UK’s backing to President
Zelenskyy’s plans to work towards a just and lasting peace for
Ukraine.
As part of today’s talks, the Prime Minister will offer to
bolster the UK’s training offer for Ukrainian troops, including
expanding it to fighter jet pilots to ensure Ukraine can defend
its skies well into the future.
The training will ensure pilots are able to fly sophisticated
NATO-standard fighter jets in the future. As part of that
long-term capability investment, the UK will work with Ukraine
and international allies to coordinate collective support to meet
Ukraine’s defensive needs.
He will also offer to begin an immediate training programme for
marines.
That training will be in addition to the recruit training
programme already running in the UK, which has seen 10,000
Ukrainian troops brought to battle readiness in the last six
months, and which will upskill a further 20,000 Ukrainian
soldiers this year. The UK will continue to work with the
Ukrainian Armed Forces and international community to scale the
programme up in 2023.
Just last week, Ukrainian troops arrived in the UK to learn how
to command Challenger 2 tanks, following the Prime Minister’s
decision to send the main battle tanks to Ukraine.
The Prime Minister will also offer to provide Ukraine with longer
range capabilities. This will disrupt Russia’s ability to
continually target Ukraine’s civilian and critical national
infrastructure and help relieve pressure on Ukraine’s frontlines.
The President and his team will also meet defence and security
chiefs, including the Chief of Defence Staff and Chief of the Air
Staff, to discuss the details of the training programme.
Prime Minister said:
“President Zelenskyy’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.
“Since 2014, the UK has provided vital training to Ukrainian
forces, allowing them to defend their country, protect their
sovereignty and fight for their territory.
“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. 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.”
The UK will also announce further sanctions today in response to
Russia’s continued bombardment of Ukraine, including the
targeting of those who have helped Putin build his personal
wealth, and companies who are profiting from the Kremlin’s war
machine.
