Smoke rises from the grounds of the Azovstal steel plant in the city of Mariupol on April 29, 2022. Andrey BORODULIN AFP KIEV Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that he had discussed defensive support for Ukraine with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Zelensky said that the necessary diplomatic efforts to achieve peace was another topic of the conversation as both sides talked about the situation on the battlefield and the blocked city of Mariupol in eastern Ukraine.
Earleir said the Ukrainian leader had discussed defense cooperation in a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron. Ukraine has allocated billions of US dollars to the defense ministry amid the ongoing conflict with Russia, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Friday.
Shmyhal said that the Ukrainian government has allocated 119 billion hryvnias for the ministry, about $4 billion, according to 119 billion hryvnias. We are trying to provide maximum support for our fighters. ALSO READ: Ukraine seeks to seize Russia's assets for post-conflict recovery.
The funds will be used to pay salaries to Ukrainian troops, and provide them with equipment, fuel, food, protective devices and weapons, according to Shmyhal.