After his visits to the USA and Poland, it was only Selenski’s third visit abroad.
(Photo: dpa)
London Even before Volodymyr Zelensky set foot on British soil on Wednesday morning, the government in London had already given the Ukrainian President a gift: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that Britain would not only train Ukrainian soldiers and armored personnel carriers in the future, but also pilots for modern combat aircraft.
In the evening, Sunak even hinted that the delivery of fighter jets was “not off the table”. That would be a serious change in the previous attitude and would also put allies like Germany under pressure to act. London wants to underline its leading role in providing military support to Ukraine.
Selenski made clever use of the gift and called on the British to form a “coalition of airplanes”: “Give us wings to defend our freedom,” said the President in front of both houses of the British Parliament in the traditional Westminster Hall. “Liberty will win and Russia will lose.”
After his visits to the USA and Poland, it was only Selenski’s third visit abroad – and it could not have been more symbolic. The red carpet was rolled out in front of the government seat at 10 Downing Street. In the more than 900-year-old Westminister Hall, British MPs stood shoulder to shoulder to listen to the guest from Ukraine.
The British government and opposition had previously shown themselves to be unusually united during question time in the House of Commons. Prime Minister Sunak agreed with Labor leader Keir Starmer when he called for economic reparations for Ukrainians in the form of Russian assets.
According to the opposition leader, those responsible for the war of aggression in Moscow, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, should be held accountable before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. “The first charges will be filed shortly,” announced Sunak.
In the chair of Winston Churchill
Zelenskiy reminded the British of his compatriots who held out “in trenches” against the Russian aggressor. And he recalled his visit to London in 2020, when he sat in the famous “War Rooms” on the chair from which Winston Churchill defended his country against Nazi Germany during World War II. Here, too, the symbolism was well chosen. “London have been with us from day one,” said the Ukrainian, “thank you for your bravery.”
“Give us the wings to defend our freedom,” said the President in front of both houses of the British Parliament in the traditional Westminster Hall.
(Photo: dpa)
Zelenskiy had a special thank you ready for former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who last year was one of the first Western heads of government to jump in militarily to Ukraine’s side. That was no coincidence either: Johnson has just severely criticized his successor Rishi Sunak for not wanting to deliver any combat aircraft to Kyiv so far.
Britain trained about 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers last year, according to the government. This year it will be 20,000. London is also supplying heavy weapons, including 14 Challenger II main battle tanks.
Zelensky visiting London
So far, London, Berlin and Washington have agreed not to deliver modern combat aircraft. In a government statement, Chancellor Scholz warned of an “outbidding competition for arms deliveries”.
Possible meeting with Scholz and Macron in Paris – Visiting the EU summit in Brussels?
Selenski knows, however, that he had to push for a long time on the tank issue in order to clear the political path for the heavy war equipment. And the French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu had already emphasized at the end of January that the delivery of aircraft to Kyiv should not be “taboo”. At a joint press conference with Zelensky, Sunak also conceded with regard to the fighter planes: “Nothing is off the table.” Training pilots is an important prerequisite for giving Ukraine everything it needs for victory. This included longer-range missiles, which Zelenski had previously called for.
According to the Ukrainian military, fighter jets are urgently needed to protect the country’s infrastructure and civilian population against Russian airstrikes. Observers expect a Russian offensive as soon as the weather conditions in Ukraine allow it.
After his appearance before the parliamentarians, Selensky went to an audience with King Charles III. at Buckingham Palace. He then wanted to visit a training center for Ukrainian soldiers in south-west England with British Prime Minister Sunak.
At the end of his appearance in the Westminister Hall, Selenski thanked in advance for the English afternoon tea “and the powerful British fighter planes”. On Wednesday evening, Selenski could meet Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, according to the French Presidential Office. There is also speculation about a visit by the Ukrainian to the EU summit this week in Brussels.
More: Scholz warns of “outbidding competition” for arms deliveries – Merz criticizes the Chancellor’s hesitation