Key takeaways:
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a surprise visit to the UK, urging allies to send his country jets and presenting the speaker of the House of Commons with a Ukrainian air force helmet.
- In his speech to the joint houses of the British parliament, Zelensky thanked Great Britain for their support and asked for more heavy weaponry, including fighter jets.
- The visit was only Zelensky’s second foreign trip since the Russian invasion of Ukraine nearly a year ago, and his message was well-received by the British lawmakers.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a surprise visit to the UK on Wednesday, delivering a powerful message to British lawmakers. Wearing his trademark olive drab sweatshirt, Zelensky urged allies to send his country jets, saying combat aircraft would be “wings for freedom.” He presented the speaker of the House of Commons with a Ukrainian air force helmet, inscribed by a Ukrainian pilot: “We have freedom.”
The president is trying to soften allies’ reluctance to send advanced fighter jets, both because they are complex to fly and for fear of escalating the war. The government said Wednesday it would train Ukrainian pilots on “NATO-standard fighter jets,” without saying what kind.
In his speech to the joint houses of the British parliament, Zelensky thanked Great Britain for their support and said, “London has stood with Kyiv since day one.” He went on to say, “Great Britain, you extended your helping hand when the world had not yet come to understand how to react.”
The visit was only Zelensky’s second foreign trip since the Russian invasion of Ukraine nearly a year ago. His poignant but carefully crafted move was a direct plea for more heavy weaponry, including fighter jets, and a reminder of the importance of freedom. The Ukrainian president’s message was well-received by the British lawmakers, and his visit is sure to have a lasting impact on the relationship between the two countries.
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