Ukrainian President Zelenskyy to visit U.K.

LONDON AP - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will visit Britain on Wednesday, his first trip to the U.K. since Russia s invasion began nearly a year ago and only his second confirmed journey outside Ukraine during the war.

The British government says Zelenskyy will hold talks with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, address Parliament and meet with U.K. military chiefs.

The U.K. is one of the biggest military backers in Ukraine and has sent more than 2 billion pounds $2.5 billion in weapons and equipment. Sunak announced yesterday that Britain will train Ukrainian pilots on NATO-standard fighter jets. Ukraine has urged its allies to send jets, though the U.K. says it is not practical to provide the Ukrainian military with British warplanes. More than 10,000 Ukrainian troops have been trained at bases in the U.K. some on the Challenger 2 tanks that Britain is sending. Today, I am proud that we will expand that training from soldiers to marines and fighter jet pilots, so that Ukraine has a military able to defend its interests well into the future, Sunak said. It also underlines our commitment to not just provide military equipment for the short term, but a long-term pledge to stand shoulder-to- shoulder with Ukraine for years to come. It will be Zelenskyy's second known trip to abroad since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24. He visited the U.S. in December. Zelenskyy formed a bond with the former prime minister Boris Johnson, who was one of Ukraine's most vocal backers. Sunak took office in October and pledged to maintain the U.K.'s support.