Before today’s meeting between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Rishi Sunak, the UK has committed to sending hundreds of new long range attack drones to Ukraine.
The Ukrainian President and M Sunak will meet at Chequers (the country retreat of the Prime Minister) for “substantive discussions” regarding military aid.
The government has said that Mr Sunak would confirm today the provision of additional unmanned aerial systems and hundreds of air defence weapons, including new long-range attack robots with a 200km range.
Mr Sunak called it a “crucial” moment in Ukraine‘s resistance to Russia‘s invasion. He added: “We cannot let them down.”
The announcement comes at a time when Mr Zelenskyy is embarking on a European tour to increase support from allies as Kyiv prepares its counteroffensive.
Mr Zelenskyy described the UK in a tweet before his arrival as “a leader” when it came to Ukraine’s expansion of its capabilities both on the ground, and in the sky.
confirmed that the UK had donated long-range precision rockets to Ukraine’s military.
The government has said that the additional provisions, which will be confirmed today, will be delivered within the next few months.
The German government announced on Saturday that it would continue to provide Kyiv with military assistance in the amount of EUR2.7bn (2.35bn PS) and further weapons deliveries.
France pledged additional military aid as President Emmanuel Macron met with Mr Zelenskyy in a surprise Paris summit on Sunday.
The office of Mr Macron said that France would supply dozens light tanks and armored vehicles “in weeks to come”, but did not give specific numbers.
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Since the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Britain has been one major supplier of military aid. Last year it contributed PS2.3bn and pledged a similar amount in 2023.
The last time Mr Sunak met Mr Zelenskyy was in February when the Ukrainian President made his first trip to the UK after Russia invaded the country.
In the meantime, heavy fighting continues in Ukraine’s eastern city of Bakhmut. Both sides have suffered heavy losses.
The battle for the city was not about seizing territory but rather maximising enemy deaths .
Zelenskyy said that his troops will not be attacking Russian territory in their counteroffensive.
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