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Volodymyr Zelensky lands in the UK today to visit Downing Street to meet Rishi Sunak and address MPs in Parliament.
It was the first Ukrainian president to visit Britain since Russia invaded last year.
He will meet with the prime minister this morning and later with the head of defense and security to discuss the details of British training for the Ukrainian army.
During the talks, Sunak will provide additional support to Ukraine’s war effort, including long-range military capabilities to “interrupt Russia’s ability to continuously target Ukraine’s civilian and critical national infrastructure.” It is expected that
The Prime Minister said of the visit:
“Since 2014, the UK has provided critical training to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, enabling them to defend their country, defend their sovereignty and fight for their territory.”
He added that the UK is proud to expand its training “from soldiers to marines to fighter pilots, ensuring that Ukraine has an army that can defend its interests well into the future.”
Britain is also set to announce further sanctions against Russia on Wednesday, including targeting companies that have “helped build” the personal wealth of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Britain pledged last month to send a battalion of 14 Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine.
The government also sent about 30 heavy artillery pieces. This, Downing Street said, showed “the UK’s ambition to step up its support”.
Several other countries, including Germany and the United States, have also recently pledged to send additional military equipment.
Germany also allowed the shipment of domestically manufactured Leopard 2 tanks to other European countries.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the country expected to receive 120 to 140 Western tanks in the “first wave” of deliveries from the 12-nation coalition.
This story is being updated.