Official Visit of the President of Ukraine to the United Kingdom

 

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Had an Audience with King Charles III in London

During the official visit of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the United Kingdom, he had an audience with His Majesty King Charles III.

During this audience, the Head of State thanked His Majesty, the Royal Family, and all Britons for their support of the Ukrainian people during the full-scale Russian aggression.

 

President Meets with Speakers of the House of Commons and the House of Lords of the UK Parliament

In London, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the Speaker of the House of Commons of the UK Parliament, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, and the Lord Speaker of the House of Lords, Lord John McFall.

The Head of State thanked the people, Government, and Parliament of the United Kingdom for their principled support of Ukraine since the very first days of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

During the meeting, the parties discussed continued support and cooperation, transatlantic unity, and diplomatic efforts with all allies to stop Russian aggression and bring the war to an end.

The President emphasized the importance of maintaining pressure on Russia and imposing sweeping sanctions on its banking and energy sectors.

The parties also discussed the situation in the Middle East and the threat posed by Russia’s cooperation with North Korea and Iran.

They recalled the atrocities committed by the Russians in Bucha and other occupied towns and villages of Ukraine, which caused immense suffering to families. The United Kingdom strongly condemns all Russian war crimes.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle expressed his support for the Ukrainian people and affirmed the full unity of the House of Commons and the House of Lords. According to him, support for Ukraine is unanimous in both chambers.

Lord John McFall thanked the President for the meeting and also assured him of continued high-level support from the United Kingdom.

 

Coordination with Partners, Joint Defense Projects, and Tougher Sanctions on Russia: Volodymyr Zelenskyy Meets with Keir Starmer

In London, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

The Head of State expressed gratitude for supporting Ukraine and emphasized that the key task now is to stop Russian terror and force the aggressor to think about peace rather than continuing the war and escalating it further.

The main topics of the meeting included strengthening diplomatic coordination within multilateral formats, developing joint defense projects, and increasing sanctions pressure on the Russian Federation.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the need to enhance cooperation within the Coalition of the Willing, particularly in regard to security guarantees for Ukraine.

The leaders discussed deepening defense cooperation, an issue that was raised during their meeting on the sidelines of the G7 Summit last week. This cooperation will enable Ukraine to secure stable and adequate funding for defense projects, including the production of interceptor drones and long-range drones. Another key focus was the strengthening of Ukraine’s air defense with the necessary capabilities. Relevant agreements have been reached.

“There is a good outcome from today’s meeting – an additional decision on joint production. I believe it will be very effective and will strengthen both countries,” the President said.

The Head of State also thanked the United Kingdom for the recent sanctions package against Russia and underlined the need for sanctions that would make it impossible for Russia to scale up its weapons production. He stressed the importance of increasing sanctions on the energy and banking sectors, the shadow fleet, and introducing secondary restrictions – particularly targeting companies that supply dual-use components used in the production of drones and missiles.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy provided the United Kingdom with a list of Russian enterprises involved in the production of the “Oreshnik” system, other ballistic missiles, drones, and equipment used by Russia to strike Ukrainian cities and villages.

“Thirty-nine companies from Russia’s defense-industrial complex are involved in the production of the ‘Oreshnik’ system. Twenty-one of them are not under sanctions. That means they continue to receive parts and components for the ‘Oreshnik.’ And they need them, because there will be no ‘Oreshnik’ without these parts,” the Head of State noted during a recent conversation with journalists.

 

Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Keir Starmer Meet with Ukrainian Troops Training under Operation Interflex in the United Kingdom

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, together with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, met with Ukrainian warriors undergoing training in the United Kingdom.

The Head of State thanked the United Kingdom and all partners for the Interflex training program for Ukrainian troops, which was launched in June 2022 and now includes 13 participating countries.

“I am very grateful that you truly support Ukrainians and Ukrainian warriors, strengthening our army and helping Ukraine endure,” the President said.

Keir Starmer noted that while observing the training, he witnessed the high level of professionalism and dedication among Ukrainians.

“Some of you are undergoing training for the first time, some have been on the front lines, fought, and are now back for further training. I’m very proud that the United Kingdom has been leading this training effort for three years now and that, together, we’ve trained around 58,000 people,” he said.

The President and the Prime Minister spoke with the Ukrainian military about ways to improve training effectiveness and reach even more defenders of Ukraine.

Present at the meeting were service members taking part in two Interflex courses. The first is a basic military training course, where Ukrainian warriors are trained, in particular, as riflemen. The second course is designed for squad commanders. Upon completing the training, they will return to Ukraine and carry out combat missions in their respective units.

At Chatham House, President of Ukraine Meets with Leaders of British Think Tanks and Research Institutions

At the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House), President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with leaders of the United Kingdom’s leading think tanks and research centers.

The Head of State emphasized that Ukraine endures and continues to fight against Russian aggression.

“In my opinion, the entire meaning of our struggle and our life is contained in a very simple yet profoundly meaningful phrase: ‘Glory to Ukraine!’” said Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The President noted that it is important for him to be in the United Kingdom and, in particular, to visit Chatham House, as the British people have provided significant support since the beginning of the full-scale Russian aggression and continue to stand with Ukraine.

The discussion focused on the battlefield situation and diplomatic efforts to achieve a just and durable peace.

The participants also discussed the growth of Ukraine’s defense production, especially the manufacturing of interceptor drones and long-range UAVs, as well as the strengthening of cooperation with partners.

In addition, the conversation touched on the need to increase sanctions pressure on Russia and the important role of the United States in this process.

Particular attention was given to Russia’s cooperation with North Korea and Iran, which poses a threat not only to Ukraine but also to other nations around the world.

https://www.president.gov.ua/news/