Volodymyr Zelensky visits London seeking more arms against Russia

Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, left, welcomes Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Downing Street in London. Pic/AP

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 Zelensky met Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on a rare visit abroad. London was Zelensky's first stop on only his second trip abroad since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24 after a visit to the United States in December.

He is due to travel onto Brussels on Thursday where the European Union is holding a summit. Greeted by Sunak on the steps of Number 10 Downing Street to applause from onlookers inside and outside the British prime minister's office, Zelensky thanked Britain for its support "from the first days of the full-scale invasion". "Thank you so much, we are proud, really, and have very good relations with Rishi," Zelensky said.

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The meeting was short, with Sunak quickly arriving in parliament to attend the weekly prime minister's questions. Britain, which has been working with Ukrainian troops, said the extra training would ensure Ukrainian pilots were able to fly "sophisticated NATO-standard fighter jets in the future", adding it 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 immediately provide Kyiv with the fighter jets it has asked for - something the government has said is not the right approach for now.

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