The UK government will send more military aid in the form of much-needed defence equipment to Ukraine in its fight against Russia, Prime Minister Boris Johnson told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Johnson said in one of many regular phone calls between the two leaders on Saturday that Britain would provide more mobility vehicles, drones and anti-tank weapons, as he condemned ongoing attacks by Russian forces against civilian targets, including Mariupol, Odessa and Lviv.
He also informed Zelensky about new UK sanctions imposed against members of the Russian military and confirmed that the UK would reopen its embassy in Kyiv next week as a show of support and solidarity with the Ukrainian people. In a readout of the call, 10 Downing Street said that President Zelenskyy thanked the Prime Minister for the training of Ukrainian military personnel currently taking place in the UK.
The Prime Minister said that Russia would be held accountable for its actions and that the UK government was helping collect evidence of war crimes. He also updated the President on the new UK sanctions against members of the Russian military and confirmed that the UK would be reopening its embassy in Kyiv next week, showing our support and solidarity with the Ukrainian people.
President Vladimir Putin and President Zelensky are due to meet UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in the coming week.
Johnson and Zelensky agreed on the importance of establishing a ceasefire and humanitarian corridor for civilians to leave Mariupol ahead of planned meetings.
The Prime Minister said Russia would be held accountable for its actions and that the UK government was helping collect evidence of war crimes.
The statement stated that the discussions taking place with international partners to develop a long-term security solution for Ukraine and the UK will work with partners to provide more financial support, including at the G 7 Finance Ministers' meeting last Wednesday.
Zelensky updated Johnson on the situation in the Donbas, where Russia is now concentrating its military efforts in a conflict that broke out in February.
Zelensky said he was satisfied with the level of military support coming from the UK at a Kyiv metro station later on Saturday.
He told reporters that they wanted more than we're being given, but they're satisfied.
We can't refuse or reject anything from the United Kingdom and the United States during the war. There are many other friends in Europe, but I'm talking about volumes of help and I'm grateful for it, he said.