PRESIDENT Volodymyr Zelensky visited Dorset on Wednesday to meet Ukrainian troops being trained by the British Army during his first trip to the UK since the Russian invasion.
President Zelensky and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak were shown around Lulworth Camp and spoke with army personnel during their visit to the site.
The two leaders arrived by helicopter for the surprise visit which was kept under wraps until Wednesday morning and last around two hours.
PICTURES: Why President Zelensky came to Dorset and what happened during his visit
Zelenskyy is taking questions from the media from Dorset’s very own Lulworth Camp. We will be sending Challenger 3 tanks to Ukraine next month @Bournemouthecho pic.twitter.com/ASJNKqBWeF
— Matt Simpson (@MattSimpsonEcho) February 8, 2023
They both spoke with a small handful of Ukrainian troops during a medal ceremony.
Approximately 80 Ukrainians are being trained in Lulworth to fight against Russia.
The two leaders were shown a Challenger 2 tank simulator being used to train Ukrainian troops.
Here is Rishi Sunak answering questions from Ukrainian media. @Bournemouthecho pic.twitter.com/sfL2SpxpJP
— Matt Simpson (@MattSimpsonEcho) February 8, 2023
Challenger 2 is used by four armoured regiments based in the south west of England including in Bovington.
Rishi Sunak spoke to the Ukrainian troops about the simulator, asking: “Is it similar to what you have been used to?”
One of the soldiers replied: “It’s quite different,” and Mr Zelensky said: “Yes, it’s new.”
Rishi Sunak said the UK’s Challenger 2 tanks would be in operation in Ukraine by “next month”.
Speaking during a joint press conference at Lulworth alongside Mr Zelensky, Mr Sunak said the “sophisticated weapons” would “soon be making a difference on the battlefields of your country”.
He added: “The Ukrainian crews who arrived last week will be using Challenger 2 tanks to defend Ukraine sovereign territory next month.”
Speaking during a joint press conference at Lulworth alongside Mr Zelensky, Mr Sunak said the “sophisticated weapons” would “soon be making a difference on the battlefields of your country”.
He added: “The Ukrainian crews who arrived last week will be using Challenger 2 tanks to defend Ukraine sovereign territory next month.”
The Ukrainian president said: “When we talk about the battlefield, what are our priorities? Of course armoured vehicles.
“We know that our enemy has thousands of units of armoured vehicles back from the Soviet Union heritage.
“And of course Nato armoured vehicles are the best and yet there are only a few of them.
“When you only have 10 Nato armoured vehicles against a thousand Soviet armoured vehicles, well what are the chances?
“We have no way out, we have to stand firm. We need armoured vehicles, we need tanks, we need fighter jets, and obviously we spend a lot of time talking about this together.”
Touching on the expansion of a UK-Ukrainian armed forces training programme, Mr Sunak added: “We must arm Ukraine in the short term but we must bolster Ukraine for the long term.
“Your country cannot be left vulnerable to attack ever again.”
Zelensky said Kyiv’s relations with the UK have reached a “new level”.
He said: “It is very clear that we are standing together with Great Britain.
“This is truly a new level of our relations.
“My deep gratitude to Rishi and all of Great Britain for your readiness and willingness to work with us in executing the Ukrainian peace formula.”
Rishi Sunak said “nothing was off the table” when asked about the possibility of sending UK fighter jets to Ukraine.
The Prime Minister said: “When it comes to fighter combat aircraft, of course they are part of the conversation — indeed, we have been discussing that today and have been previously.”
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