LONDON – President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine thanked Britain for his country’s robust military support during a surprise visit to London on Wednesday, but made a blunt demand: supplying Ukraine with fighter jets, a move the British government has so far resisted.
“I appeal to you and the world in simple but extremely important words,” said Mr Zelensky at a joint session of Parliament under the old timber-framed roof of Westminster Hall. “Fighters for Ukraine, Wings for Freedom.”
Mr. Zelensky was received like a hero on a symbolic day. Arriving at Stansted Airport, he was greeted with a hug by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who was conferring with him at 10 Downing Street. After his speech in Parliament he had an audience with King Charles III. at Buckingham Palace.
Mr Zelensky’s decision to visit the UK, only his second trip outside of Ukraine since Russia invaded last year, is a testament to his role as one of Ukraine’s largest arms suppliers and the unwavering public support of Mr Sunak and his two predecessors. Liz Truss and Boris Johnson.
Mr Zelensky will travel to Paris later on Wednesday to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the Élysée Palace said. He is then expected in Brussels on Thursday to meet the heads of state and government of the European Union.
“London has stood by Kyiv from day one,” declared Mr. Zelensky to thunderous applause from the MPs gathered in the hall. He added: “We know that freedom will prevail.”
In a dramatic gesture that doubled as a selling point, Zelensky presented Speaker of the House Lindsay Hoyle with the helmet, which the President said belonged to one of the aces in Ukraine’s Air Force. On it was a message: “We have freedom; give us wings to protect it.”
While Britain, like the United States, has done so to date Ukraine’s demands for fighter jets rolled back, Mr Sunak announced that British pilots would start training their Ukrainian counterparts on how to fly NATO fighter jets. That indicated that Britain was at least opening the door to aircraft delivery in the future.
Britain is now sending Ukraine 14 Challenger 2 main battle tanks, as well as artillery and thousands of rounds of ammunition. That promise of a few weeks ago was intended, in part, to persuade a reluctant Germany and the United States to follow suit.
These two governments have now also promised to send main battle tanks, which military analysts say will boost Ukraine’s ability to retake Russian-held territory in the face of an expected Russian spring offensive.
The British government and the Biden administration fear that the deployment of fighter jets could escalate the confrontation between NATO and Russia. But Mr Johnson, during a visit to Washington last week, urged the West to do whatever it takes – including supplying jets – to help Ukraine push back Russian troops.
At several points before and during the nearly year-long war, Britain has placed itself at the forefront of Western military support to Ukraine. Early in the conflict, according to Zelensky, deliveries of British anti-tank missiles enabled Ukrainian troops to halt the advance of the Russian army.
Britain has already trained 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers, including soldiers who arrived last week to learn how to operate Challenger tanks. In addition to the pilots, Britain said it would begin training Ukrainian marines.
In a statement, Mr. Sunak said that expanding training to include marines and fighter jet pilots “underscores our commitment to providing not just short-term military equipment, but a long-term promise to stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine for years to come.”
Mr Sunak has continued the strong support for Ukraine that began under Mr Johnson, who visited Kyiv several times and forged a friendship with Mr Zelensky. During his speech, he singled out Mr Johnson and said, “Boris, you made others take action.”
On Wednesday, the British government announced a series of new sanctions against the Russian military and supporters of President Vladimir V Putin, with the aim of “undermining its war machine in order to help Ukraine win,” British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said a statement.
The list includes several companies that support Russian military operations, including CST, a drone manufacturer, as well as companies that supply military parts and software for military aviation. Five people were also targeted for their apparent ties to Putin’s apartments.
Aurelia Breeden contributed reporting from Paris.
