Ukraine’s salute: Zelenskiy voices esteem for UK loyalty

Royal and parliamentary welcomes burnish admiration for Britain that goes deeper than current Russian war

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Like his predecessor Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak will be hoping to borrow some of Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s stardust. The Ukrainian president’s surprise visit to the UK on Wednesday is a boost to Downing Street, at a time when Rishi Sunak is beset by swirling political woes.

This is only Zelenskiy’s third trip abroad since Russia’s full-scale invasion almost a year ago. It demonstrates that the UK is considered by Kyiv to be Ukraine’s closest partner in Europe and an indispensable ally. Sunak is promising new military assistance to Kyiv, in the shape of further training for Ukrainian soldiers and fighter jet pilots.