After the accolade, London agrees to train Ukrainian fighter pilots
In London for his second visit abroad since the Russian invasion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky obtained on Wednesday the British commitment to train Ukrainian pilots, an apparent first step towards deliveries of fighter planes claimed by kyiv.
Expected Thursday in Brussels for a summit of the European Union, Volodymyr Zelensky landed Wednesday at London Stansted airport in a Royal Air Force aircraft, according to images broadcast on television. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tweeted a photo of him hugging the Ukrainian president as he exited the plane.
The two leaders are due to meet in Downing Street, then Volodymyr Zelensky is due to address parliament before traveling to the southwest of England to meet Ukrainian soldiers in training. He is also due to meet King Charles III at Buckingham Palace in the afternoon.
London promised to release on this occasion “an immediate increase in deliveries of military equipment to help counter Russia’s spring offensive”, including longer-range capabilities than what the Ukrainian army has until now. now, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s office.
This will be in addition to “long-term support” in the form of training for Ukrainian troops, extended to fighter pilots “to ensure that Ukraine can defend its airspace in the future.” “This training will allow pilots to be able to fly sophisticated combat aircraft meeting NATO standards”, as claimed by kyiv, it added.