Boris Johnson has announced that the United Kingdom will oversee a new three-week training program for Ukrainian soldiers, as he visited Kyiv for the third time this year for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
The prime minister was expected to address Conservative MPs at the Northern Research Group conference in Doncaster on Friday, but withdrew at the last minute.
He was later found to have traveled to Kyiv. Approached by challenges at home, including the resignation of his ethics adviser, Christopher Geidt, on Wednesday, Johnson is highly esteemed in Ukraine, where he is believed to have led Western opposition to the brutal invasion of Russia.
In a statement issued by No. 10, Johnson said: “As Ukrainian soldiers fire missiles from the United Kingdom in defense of your nation’s sovereignty, so do they in defense of the very freedoms we take for granted. that I have offered President Zelensky a major new military training program that could change the equation of this war, taking advantage of the most powerful force, the determination of Ukraine to win. “
The United Kingdom has provided £ 1.3 billion in economic and military support to Ukraine, including anti-tank missiles, armored vehicles and plastic explosives. But the Ukrainian armed forces have been pushing for training in Western military equipment, as well as more heavy weapons. Kyiv wants a rapid influx of expertise and equipment so it can start pushing Russia back before the weather changes.
The new training program announced by Johnson will include three-week UK-led courses and will include battle skills, basic medical training, cybersecurity and anti-explosive tactics. The courses will take place outside Ukraine, most likely in Poland.
Zelenskiy’s official spokesman, Andriy Yermak, said that at the meeting with “Boris”, they had discussed “the much-needed supplies of heavy weapons and air defense systems, economic support in Ukraine” and “growing pressure from the sanctions on the Russian Federation “.
Johnson said: “Two months after my last visit, Ukraine’s heart, determination and resilience are stronger than ever, and I know that the unwavering decision will survive President Putin’s vain ambitions for a long time.” .
The Prime Minister’s visit followed a meeting between Zelenskiy and key European leaders, including the French president and the German chancellor, earlier this week.
On Friday, the European Commission expressed its support for Ukraine to become a candidate country, the first step towards joining the EU. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told a news conference: “Ukrainians are ready to die for the European perspective. We want the European dream to live with us.”