Sunak embraces Zelensky on Ukraine leader’s surprise UK trip - as PM pledges more missiles and drones

Ukrainian president says UK has been ‘a leader’ in supporting Ukraine throughout Russia’s invasion

Volodymyr Zelensky was greeted with a hug by Rishi Sunak after arriving in Britain to seek more support for his country’s war effort - as the UK vowed to provide Ukraine with air defence missiles and attack drones.

The Ukrainian president met his “friend”, the prime minister, as part of a trip around Europe pressing western allies for more military aid.

Mr Sunak welcomed Mr Zelensky to country retreat Chequers - the first time he has hosted a visiting leader at the Buckinghamshire mansion - before the two leaders held talks.

The two leaders had discussed western fighter jets, Mr Zelensky said, and he anticipated “very important decisions” to be made soon. It came as No 10 said Britain would send hundreds of air defence missiles and further unmanned aerial systems to the war-torn country.

“Welcome back”, the prime minister said in a post on Twitter, which included a photo of the two leaders in a warm embrace. Mr Zelensky, who has also held meetings in Paris, Berlin and Rome, had also visited the UK three months ago.

During the visit, Mr Sunak praised the Ukrainian leader’s fortitude, drawing a comparison between Mr Zelensky and Sir Winston Churchill during World War Two.

He also said the UK would be “sustaining our support” for Ukraine .

“This is a crucial moment in Ukraine’s resistance to a terrible war of aggression they did not choose or provoke,” he said.

“They need the sustained support of the international community to defend against the barrage of unrelenting and indiscriminate attacks that have been their daily reality for over a year.

“We must not let them down.”

Following the pair’s talks, Mr Sunak said the UK will be ready to help train Ukrainian pilots to use Western fighter jets "relatively soon".

He said the provision of warplanes was "not straightforward" but that Britain will play a "key part" in a coalition of countries giving that support to the war-torn nation.

"It is not a straightforward thing as Volodymyr and I have been discussing to build up that fighter combat aircraft capability,” he said.

"It's not just the provision of planes its also the training of pilots and all the logistics that go alongside that and the UK can play a big part in that.

"One thing we will be doing starting actually relatively soon is training of Ukrainian pilots and that's something we've discussed today and we're ready to implement those plans in relatively short order."

Mr Zelensky said on Twitter that the UK is ‘a leader’ when it comes to expanding our capabilities on the ground and in the air (Sky News)

Mr Zelensky, meanwhile, said the two countries were “real partners”, with Mr Sunak knowing details of developments on the battlefield.

“We want to create this jets coalition and I’m very positive with it,” he said.

“We spoke about it and I see that in the closest time you will hear some, I think very important decisions but we have to work a little bit more on it.”

Mr Sunak’s spokesman said there are "no plans" to supply Ukraine with the Typhoon or F-35 jets operated by the UK and said the Ukrainian government identified the more widely-used F-16 as its Western fighter plane of choice.

Mr Sunak confirmed the UK will provide hundreds of air defence missiles and further unmanned aircraft including hundreds of new long-range attack drones. The government said they will be delivered in “the coming months” as Ukraine prepares to step up its resistance to the ongoing Russian invasion.

Last week the UK confirmed it will supply Ukraine with the long-range Storm Shadow missiles it requested for its fight against invading Russian forces.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (left) and Volodymyr Zelensky during the Ukrainian President’s last visit to the UK (Peter Nicholls/PA) (PA Wire)

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said the weapons will give Ukraine the “best chance” of defending itself.

The Kremlin said Russia takes an "extremely negative" view of Britain's decision to supply long-range Storm Shadow cruise missiles and other military hardware to Ukraine, but that it does not believe it will change the conflict's outcome.

The pair met in the Hawtrey Room, where Sir Winston made some of the radio addresses that helped keep up morale during the Second World War.

Mr Sunak said: “You are actually the first foreign leader I have had the privilege of welcoming here as Prime Minister and there’s a lot of great history here.

“In fact, this room that we are standing in, Winston Churchill made many of his famous speeches in World War Two from this room.

“And the same way today, your leadership, your country’s bravery and fortitude are an inspiration to us all.”

The visit comes days after Liverpool hosted Eurovision on behalf of Ukraine.

Zelensky and the Pope shook hands at the Vatican at the weekend (AFP/Getty)

Mr Zelensky met Pope Francis in the Vatican last weekend, after Italy pledged its full support for Kyiv in its defence against the Russian invasion.

Earlier he met Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, who condemned Russia’s “brutal and unjust aggression,” pledged Italy’s support for Ukraine for “as long as is necessary,” and urged Russia to immediately withdraw.

And Mr Zelensky made his first visit to Germany since Russia invaded Ukraine - where he was met with military honours by chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Berlin announced €2.7bn (£2.4bn) of military aid to Ukraine, its biggest such package yet, and pledged further support for Kyiv for as long as necessary.

The Ukrainian president and his team have been vigorously promoting Kyiv’s 10-point peace plan and urging world leaders to hold a Global Peace Summit based on the proposals.

It calls for restoring Ukraine’s territorial integrity, the withdrawal of Russian troops and cessation of hostilities, and the restoration of Ukraine’s state borders. Mr Zelensky has repeatedly said the plan is not open to negotiations.

Mr Zelensky on Monday lauded "important and powerful" military aid from Britain, France and Germany, and said he was pleased with agreements reached during a tour of Europe.

"The priority (during our talks) was our counteroffensive actions, I am very pleased with the achievements and agreements," he said while visiting Mr Sunak.

After Moscow acknowledged on Friday that its forces had fallen back north of Ukraine’s battlefield city of Bakhmut, Britain’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) said Russian troops had likely withdrawn “in bad order”.

The MoD said Russia’s 72nd Separate Motor Rifle Brigade, established last Autumn, was dogged with allegations of poor morale and limited combat effectiveness and its deployment to Bakhmut reflected a severe shortage of credible combat units on Moscow’s part.

Mr Zelensky’s visit comes after two of Vladimir Putin’s military commanders were killed in eastern Ukraine, Russia’s military said, as it warned of a renewed effort by Kyiv’s forces to break through in the frontline city of Bakhmut.