Supervisor Elham AbolFateh
Editor in Chief Mohamed Wadie

Johnson Meets with Zelensky in Kyiv


Sat 09 Apr 2022 | 05:49 PM
Ahmad El-Assasy

Boris Johnson, the British prime minister, was in Kyiv on Saturday for face-to-face talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as part of a "display of support with the Ukrainian people," according to Downing Street.

"They will address the UK's long-term support for Ukraine, and the Prime Minister will announce a new package of financial and military assistance," a spokesperson said.

Andriy Sybiha, a Zelensky aide, uploaded a photo of the two leaders seated across from each other in a large chamber.

Johnson was dressed in a dark suit and Zelensky khaki overalls, which have become his hallmark look since Russia invaded Ukraine in February.

"The United Kingdom is the world leader in defence assistance to Ukraine," Sybiha noted.

Johnson is "the anti-war coalition's leader," according to Sybiha. "The man in charge of sanctions on Russia's aggressor."

The British PM's journey to Ukraine was not announced in advance by London, and the prime minister himself brushed off inquiries about it during a press conference on Friday.

His visit to Kyiv came after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU foreign policy director Josep Borrell visited the Ukrainian capital on Friday, while Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer visited earlier on Saturday.

Following Ukraine's rejection of Russian forces from the Kyiv region late last month, the European visits are taking place.