Ukraine President Zelenskiy meets British PM Johnson in Kyiv
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(Reuters) -Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was meeting British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in Kyiv on Saturday, Ukrainian and British officials said.
Johnson’s visit had begun with a one-on-one meeting with Zelenskiy, Andriy Sybiha, deputy head of the Ukraine president’s office, said on Facebook.
Johnson met Zelenskiy “in a show of solidarity with the Ukrainian people”, a Downing Street spokesperson said.
“They will discuss the UK’s long-term support to Ukraine and the PM will set out a new package of financial and military aid.”
A handout photo made available via the official Telegram channel of the President of Ukraine shows Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (R) and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson (L) sit for a meeting in Kyiv (Kiev), Ukraine, 09 April 2022. Johnson arrived in Kyiv on an unannounced surprise visit. EPA-EFE/TELEGRAM/V_Zelenskiy_official / HANDOUT
Johnson’s visit to the Ukrainian capital was not announced in advance, and comes as Russia is amassing troops in the east of the country.
“The UK will send more defensive weapons to Ukraine and will work with G7 partners to target every pillar of the Russian economy to ensure Putin fails,” Johnson tweeted earlier on Saturday.
(Reporting by Pavel Polityuk, writing by Nerijus Adomaitis, editing by Angus MacSwan and Alex Richardson)
