Ukraine and the United Kingdom are becoming true allies, as enshrined in the Declaration of Unity signed today. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting with media representatives following the negotiations with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at the Bovington Camp military base.
As noted by the Head of State, the negotiations with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom began in London with defense issues. The President’s address to British parliamentarians was also devoted to this topic. The visit to the United Kingdom is ending with defense issues as well - at the military base where Ukrainian soldiers are training.
"We have a powerful defense package from the UK. We have agreed on a significant number of armored vehicles, the supply of long-range weapons, and also we have agreed to start training Ukrainian pilots. I believe that this is our clear signal - of Ukraine and the United Kingdom - that together we are not just going, but will go all the way to our common victory," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
The Head of State emphasized that this visit to the United Kingdom has been extremely productive.
"I am thankful to Prime Minister Sunak for understanding our needs, for his good pieces of advice and for the decisions that will help Ukrainian warriors become even stronger. I thank His Majesty the King for today's meeting, for our conversation. I thank all the members of the British Parliament who made it absolutely clear during my address that Britain will never compromise its brave spirit. And I thank each and everyone in the United Kingdom who was on the streets of London today - we saw it all - with Ukrainian flags and who paid attention to our visit," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
As the President emphasized, it is now clear that Ukraine and the UK are becoming true allies.
"We signed a Declaration of Unity with Mr. Prime Minister, a document that sets out the principles of our cooperation and mutual support. Allied cooperation and mutual support. This is a new level of relations," the Head of State said.
According to him, the parties also noted the achieved level of security, sanctions, political and economic cooperation, and determined how to further strengthen the positions of the two countries. Cooperation on international platforms was also discussed.
"I would like to thank you personally, Rishi, and the whole of Britain for the willingness to work together with us to fully implement the Ukrainian Peace Formula. And it is here that I want to say to all our warriors, every Ukrainian soldier, sergeant, officer and general: the state is doing and will do everything to ensure that our defenders on the frontline have maximum capabilities. The maximum that the world's leading countries have today. Ukraine will be among those who have everything they need to protect our people and our independence," Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized.
For his part, Rishi Sunak noted that it was a great privilege for him to be in this place with the President of Ukraine.
"The path of Britain and Ukraine is clearly defined as 10,000 warriors are already training here in the UK. And there will be even more. Thousands of soldiers are now learning to operate Challenger tanks, and they are confident that they will soon be able to prove themselves on the battlefield in Ukraine," the British Prime Minister emphasized.
According to him, today's visit of the Ukrainian President to the United Kingdom once again underscores close friendly relations between the two countries.
"We will invariably stand by your side. We are familiar with the Ukrainian spirit and desire to defeat tyranny. That is why we are training and preparing Ukrainian troops so that they can fight back," the British Prime Minister said.
Rishi Sunak also emphasized that the UK is accelerating the supply of various types of weapons to Ukraine.
"In particular, when we talk about Challenger tanks, they are needed next month already to defend Ukraine," he said.
The Prime Minister emphasized that the Declaration of Unity has been signed to cement long-term cooperation between the two countries.
According to him, on the eve of the anniversary of the full-scale invasion, Russia should see that its aggression has only strengthened cooperation between democratic countries and convinced them to move faster in helping Ukraine.
