LONDON: Britain announced an immediate surge of military deliveries to Ukraine to help it fend off an intensifying Russian offensive and pledged to train its pilots as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrived in London on a rare visit abroad.
Zelenskiy was due to travel onto Brussels on Thursday where the European Union is holding a summit, according to an EU diplomat. London was his first stop on only his second trip abroad since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24 after a visit to the United States in December.
In Britain, he will meet Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and King Charles and address parliament.
"The United Kingdom was one of the first to come to Ukraine's aid. And today I'm in London to personally thank the British people for their support and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for his leadership," Zelenskiy wrote on Telegram, under a photo of him and Sunak at the airport.
Britain, which has been training Ukrainian troops, said the extra training would ensure Ukrainian pilots were able to fly "sophisticated NATO-standard fighter jets in the future", adding the move was "part of long-term investment in their military".
The wording seemed to suggest that Britain had not yet changed its mind on whether to provide Kyiv with the fighter jets it has asked for - something the government has said is not the right approach for now.
Sunak said the visit was a testament "to his country's courage, determination and fight and ... to the unbreakable friendship between our two countries".
"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."
Zelenskiy will meet King Charles later on Wednesday, a spokesperson for Buckingham Palace said. Charles, who has visited several organisations who help Ukrainians in Britain, has called Russia's invasion of Ukraine a "brutal aggression".
Britain also set out further sanctions to target those who have helped Russian President Vladimir Putin, including manufacturers of military equipment and eight individuals who helped "maintain wealth and power amongst Kremlin elites".
SUNAK PLEDGES MORE SUPPORT
Zelenskiy, who had close ties with ex-prime minister Boris Johnson, visits Britain at a time when Russia is bringing tens of thousands of recently mobilised troops to the battlefield to try to break through Ukrainian defences in eastern Ukraine.
Ukraine's allies have promised hundreds of tanks and armoured vehicles to help Kyiv resist the assault and recapture territory, but have said it will take time to train Ukrainian forces to use them effectively.
Since Johnson resigned last year, Sunak has pledged to continue to support Ukraine, visiting Kyiv in November to tell the Ukrainian leader: "We are with you all the way."
In London, he is expected to tell Zelenskiy he will accelerate the delivery of military equipment to Ukraine.
Britain has trained 10,000 Ukrainian troops brought to battle readiness in the last six months and will train a further 20,000 soldiers this year, the government said.
Last week, Ukrainian troops arrived in Britain to learn how to command Challenger 2 tanks and Sunak will offer to provide Ukraine with longer range capabilities, the statement said.
London has so far refused to deliver fighter jets, saying it was not "the right approach" for now. But defence minister Ben Wallace has suggested that stance could change.
Sunak's spokesman said last week that the quickest a pilot could learn to fly a British fighter jet was 35 months. "We will continue listening to the Ukrainians and consider what is right for the long term," he said.
Reuters
Wed Feb 08 2023
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy walks after arrival with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at an airport in Stansted, Britain February 8, 2023. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via REUTERS
Protes di universiti AS tidak tunjuk tanda perlahan
Dalam dua minggu lalu, protes pro-Palestin telah merebak ke kampus kolej utama di seluruh AS.
37 juta tan serpihan runtuhan di Gaza - UNMAS
Terdapat juga sejumlah besar senjata api yang tidak meletup tertimbus di dalam runtuhan yang menimbulkan risiko kepada kerja pembersihan.
Legenda EPL puji padang SNBJ
Pemain Manchester Reds dan Liverpool Reds memuji keadaan rumput yang cantik dan bersedia untuk kembali beraksi pada masa akan datang.
Mesyuarat Khas WEF: Dunia saling tidak percaya akibat kebergantungan dipersenjatakan - Naib Presiden Suruhanjaya Eropah
Fenomena hilang kepercayaan yang melanda komuniti antarabangsa ketika ini adalah akibat kebergantungan yang dipersenjatakan oleh beberapa pihak.
Che'gu Bard tiba di mahkamah bagi hadapi pertuduhan kes fitnah, hasut
Badrul Hisham, yang memakai baju Melayu berwarna hijau, dibawa oleh pihak polis ke mahkamah dalam keadaan bergari.
WCK sambung misi bantuan di Gaza
Operasi itu disambung sebulan selepas tujuh pekerja badan amal itu terbunuh dalam serangan udara Israel.
Mesyuarat Khas WEF: Dunia perlukan persaingan sihat dalam transisi ke Orde Baharu - Menteri Luar Arab Saudi
Dunia memerlukan persaingan sihat dalam transisi daripada Orde Dunia Lama kepada Orde Baharu.
Niaga AWANI: Jiwa SME: Permintaan daun moringa meningkat, jadi tumpuan luar negara
Berdasarkan laporan Vodus Market Research, sebuah firma penyelidikan dan analisis data pasaran dalam talian, kira-kira 71 peratus penduduk di negara ini mengambil suplemen pada 2021.
Nilai pasaran suplemen negara juga menunjukkan peningkatan ketara dalam tempoh 2014 hingga 2019, iaitu daripada RM2.07 bilion kepada RM3.1 bilion. Angka itu dijangka terus meningkat pada masa akan datang.
Nilai pasaran suplemen negara juga menunjukkan peningkatan ketara dalam tempoh 2014 hingga 2019, iaitu daripada RM2.07 bilion kepada RM3.1 bilion. Angka itu dijangka terus meningkat pada masa akan datang.
Niaga AWANI: FBM KLCI mencapai paras tertinggi walaupun ditengah cabaran Ringgit
Indeks FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI meningkat sebanyak 8.28% walaupun nilai matawang menurun sebanyak 3.79% berbanding dollar Amerika Syarikat (AS). Adakah trend ini akan berterusan sehingga bulan Mei akan datang? Kupasan lanjut bersama Ketua Penyelidikan dan Penasihat Kekayaan, Pengurus Portfolio, UOB Kay Hian Wealth Advisors, Mohd Sedek Jantan.
Niaga AWANI: Ringgit dijangka sekitar 4.77 berbanding dolar AS minggu ini
Pengarah Urusan SPI Asset Management Stephen Innes berkata ini bagaimanapun bergantung kepada reaksi pasaran bon global memandangkan ramai peniaga memberi tumpuan terhadap pelarasan oleh Rizab Persekutuan AS (Fed).
Keadaan di Gaza semakin tidak boleh diterima, kata PM Britain kepada Netanyahu
UK tuntut Israel segera lakukan siasatan bebas dan menyeluruh susulan kematian tujuh pekerja bantuan di Gaza.
Rishi Sunak bertemu Raja Charles III selepas pengumuman kanser
Rishi Sunak, melawat Raja Charles III di Istana Buckingham buat kali pertama sejak baginda disahkan menghidap kanser baru-baru ini.
UK bakal kenakan sekatan baharu ke atas Houthi
Perdana Menteri Rishi Sunak berkata, ia merancang untuk membuat pengumuman sekatan itu dalam masa beberapa hari lagi.
Britain dakwa serangan ke atas Houthi tiada kaitan konflik di Gaza - PM Rishi Sunak
Serangan itu adalah tindakan mempertahankan diri dan disasarkan dengan berhati-hati, kata Rishi Sunak.
UK meterai perjanjian keselamatan baharu dengan Ukraine
Perjanjian ini diumumkan selepas pertemuan dengan Presiden Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskiy di Kiev.
Braverman sifatkan Sunak sebagai gagal, lemah
Beliau menuduh Sunak mengingkari janji untuk melakukan "apa sahaja yang diperlukan" bagi menghentikan bot dan penghijrahan haram.
PM UK ke Israel untuk bertemu Netanyahu dan Herzog
Rishi Sunak juga akan mendesak pembukaan laluan bagi membolehkan bantuan kemanusiaan masuk ke Gaza secepat mungkin.
PM UK Rishi Sunak umum pelan pembaharuan sistem pendidikan Britain
Kerajaan Britain bakal memperkenalkan "Advanced British Standard" yang menggabungkan A-level dan T-level.
Setiausaha Pertahanan UK Ben Wallace letak jawatan
Setiausaha Pertahanan Ben Wallace menghantar surat peletakan jawatan kepada Perdana Menteri Rishi Sunak selepas empat tahun memegang jawatan itu.
Britain: Rishi Sunak umum hukum penjara seumur hidup bagi pembunuh kejam
Pesalah berbahaya yang melakukan pembunuhan paling kejam akan berdepan dengan hukuman penjara seumur hidup tanpa peluang dibebaskan.