Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Rishi Sunak and the British people for their “steadfast support” in Ukraine’s fight against Russian forces.
Zelenskyi said British support during these “difficult times is invaluable” as it is a year since Vladimir Putin launched his barbaric invasion of Ukraine.
The Ukrainian leader said the new sanctions against Russia announced by Britain today were “proof of Britain’s unwavering solidarity” with Ukraine.
The UK remains a prominent supporter of Kiev, with Sunak announcing earlier this year that Britain would be the first country to supply its armed forces with tanks.
And today Britain announced a new package of sanctions banning the export of all equipment used by Russia on the battlefield in Ukraine.
Ambassador of Ukraine to the UK Vadym Prystaiko (second from left) with his wife Inna Prystaiko (left) with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak with his wife Akshata Murthy and a Ukrainian army officer (right) hold a minute’s silence in front of No. . 10 Downing Street on the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Friday in London
Ukrainian soldiers from the 80th Independent Air Assault Brigade fire a D-30 howitzer artillery piece at Russian troops Friday as the Russian offensive on Ukraine continues Friday near the frontline town of Bakhmut in Ukraine’s Donetsk region
Volodymyr Zelensky (pictured) said Britain’s support during these “difficult times has been invaluable” since Vladimir Putin launched his barbaric invasion of Ukraine a year ago.
Today, Zelenskyy shared a tweet from Sunak in which the British prime minister said Britain stands “in remembrance, in solidarity, in unity” with all Ukrainians.
In response, Zelenskyy wrote: “We thank the Prime Minister and the British people for their unwavering support in the fight against Russian aggression. Your help in these difficult times is invaluable.
“The new package of sanctions against the Russian Federation announced today shows unwavering solidarity. Let’s put pressure on the Russian Federation together. We will definitely win!’
Sunak today joined the Ukrainian ambassador and some Ukrainian soldiers being trained outside Downing Street in the UK to hold a minute’s silence to remember those who died in the war.
Meanwhile, British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said Britain was ready to provide fighter jets to Eastern European allies so they could send their Soviet-era planes to Ukraine.
Wallace said filling allies with British jets to free up their own aircraft would be a faster way to bolster Kiev’s defenses than supplying them with British Typhoons.
Britain plans to train Ukrainian pilots in Nato-standard jets, but allies are reluctant to release the modern fighter jets demanded by the Ukrainian president.
Mr Wallace told Times Radio: “The other quick way Ukraine can benefit from fighter jets is for the countries in Europe that have Russian-Soviet fighter jets – MiG 29 or Su-24 – if they want to donate, we can ‘s donate Use fighter jets, jets as a supplement and thus provide security.”
“They are already set up to fight NATO style, whereas Ukraine obviously isn’t,” he said.
Wallace said the Russian military had suffered “massive casualties” on the battlefield for very little territorial gain and would sacrifice increasing numbers of troops to meet Putin’s demands.
“It will effectively evolve into a meat grinder approach where it will just keep sacrificing its own soldiers for the Kremlin’s vanity,” he told Times Radio.
“That’s why we see huge losses in the Russian army and only gains – where we see gains – in meters and not miles.”
Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly announced the internationally coordinated new sanctions package.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attends the commemoration ceremony on February 24 in Kiev, Ukraine, marking the first anniversary of the dead and wounded since the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian war
Ukrainians take part in tactical training and evacuation of wounded during military training organized by the Ukrainian political organization Right Sector in the Lviv region of western Ukraine on Friday.
The export ban was extended to hundreds of goods, including aircraft parts, radio equipment and electronic components that could be used by Russia’s military-industrial complex.
The UK also imposed sanctions on executives at Russia’s state-owned Rosatom nuclear power plant, as well as heads of Russia’s two biggest defense contractors and four banks.
Mr Putin sharply warned that if he failed in Ukraine he would “probably threaten to use nuclear weapons”.
“We are committed to seeing Putin fail in his attempt to invade Ukraine, and when he realizes his failure, he will use every trick in the book,” he told Times Radio.
“He’s going to use cyber, he’s going to use disinformation, he’s going to try to win all kinds of favors from the international community.
“He’s going to threaten escalation and he’s probably going to threaten the use of nuclear power. What we must say to the Russian people is that there is and never has been a threat to Russia itself.
“It’s purely defensive. Nobody else is talking about this kind of escalation and there is no threat to Russia itself.”
Ukrainian troops and their British military instructors mark a year since the start of the war at Lydd Army Camp in Kent
Later, Sunak will use a call to G7 leaders, including US President Joe Biden, to urge allies to “move faster” to arm Zelenskyy’s resistance to the invasion.
Over the past year, Britain has been one of the staunchest supporters of Ukraine’s efforts to push back Kremlin troops, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announcing earlier this year that Britain would be the first country to supply tanks to its armed forces.
Mr Sunak said 14 Challenger 2 tanks would be delivered and the war machines would arrive in Eastern Europe next month.
Over the past 12 months, Ukraine has benefited from a broad coalition of support led by the US, Britain and a host of European nations in the face of international condemnation of the Russian invasion.
Washington is sending 31 of its fast M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, Berlin will initially deliver at least 14 Leopard 2 tanks and allow other NATO countries – including Poland, Norway, Finland and Spain – to build their own tanks in Kiev.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, who visited Kiev, said a first group of four German Leopard tanks – of many promised – was already in Ukraine.
The prime minister said Poland would soon supply more Leopard tanks, as well as a number of modernized Soviet-era T-72 tanks.
Meanwhile, Sweden said on Friday it would send about 10 Leopard 2 tanks and anti-aircraft systems to Ukraine.
However, there are fears that the war could drag on for at least a year, even as Ukraine insists that more aid and weapons could help bring the conflict to an end.
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Elizabeth Cabrera is an author and journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a talent for staying up-to-date on the latest news and trends, Elizabeth is dedicated to delivering informative and engaging articles that keep readers informed on the latest developments.
