Correspondent in London
A royal reception, giving the impression to the British that history in the making meets history unremembered. For his first visit to London after the invasion of Ukraine, President Zelensky received Charles III at Buckingham Palace. An honor that had to be forced by the Kremlin, where imperial symbols are not shunned.
In addition to this monarchical support, Vladimir Zelensky came to London to seek an intensification of British military aid, which was already substantial. He again urged his Western allies to provide for him “necessary weapons” stop the Russian attack and recover the lost territories. Those weapons today are mostly fighters. “I am asking you and the world for simple but very important words: fighter jets for Ukraine, wings for freedom.” he launched in the great room of Westminster Hall, where the coffin of Elizabeth II was opened a few months ago and where members of the Houses of Commons and Lords were gathered. after receiving a standing ovation, the Ukrainian “Thanks in advance for the powerful British planes”not without seeing the Speaker of the House of Commons presented with a pilot’s helmet, one “kings” Kiev army.
The British Prime Minister has promised him continued support “This year, let us win a decisive military victory.”. Rishi Sunak asked the army to study the possibility of supplying aircraft to Ukraine, assuring, however, that this could only be “long term solution”.. The United Kingdom will also increase its military training. Among them will be fighter pilots and sailors. London is here to stay. Recalling that the United Kingdom has been providing aid since 2014 “vital” to Ukrainian forces, Rishi Sunak said the new aid highlights a “A commitment not only to provide short-term military equipment, but also a promise to stand by Ukraine in the coming years.”. According to the British press, the United Kingdom is the second largest financial supporter of Ukraine after the United States. Since the first hours of the conflict, London has delivered thousands of NLAW anti-tank missiles to Kiev with the support of instructors. It has also trained more than 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers in the past six months and aims to train 20,000 more this year. London also announced the supply of Challenger 2 heavy tanks to Kiev, as well as longer-range capabilities.
A message to Europeans
Before going to Buckingham Palace, Zelensky also called Churchill, saying that he understood from the Russian attack what the “Old Lion” felt during the Second World War, when he greeted: “The Spirit of These Great Islands”. He told elected officials that pushing back against Russia would be the most important victory of their lives because it would be: “A victory against the idea of war, showing that any aggressor will lose”. And assured that the world needs British leadership as well as Ukrainian courage. Zelensky was the first foreign leader to address the British Parliament since Burma’s Aung San Suu Kyi in 2012. Last March, he was already the first to address British MPs via video conference.
Zelensky’s election is not neutral. Since the beginning of the war, this is only the third foreign country that he visited in December, after the USA and Poland. And this visit comes ahead of a visit to Paris, then Brussels, a signal no doubt sent to Europeans… for Rishi Sunak, it’s a “nice shot” both internationally and domestically. The prime minister is strengthening his position as a privileged ally of the USA in containing Russia. And he’s asserting himself against Boris Johnson, who was initially very involved on the Ukrainian front and went to Kiev again two weeks ago. Being present in the parliament, Zelensky warmly thanked him.
“BoJo” told a BBC documentary last week that his activism has earned him “He threatened in some way.” By Vladimir Putin when he told him it only took a minute to send a missile to the UK. In response, the Kremlin called him a liar…
SEE ALSO – War in Ukraine. Zelensky is visiting the UK and is expected in Paris this Wednesday evening
Source: Le Figaro
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.