British PM makes a surprise visit to Kyiv, meets Zelenksyy

Boris Johnson, the British Prime Minister, paid a surprise visit to Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, following the UK’s announcement on Friday that it will send Ukraine with more than $130 million in sophisticated weaponry.

The Ukrainian embassy in the United Kingdom posted a photo of the two leaders meeting on Twitter with the comment “Surprise.”

In a Facebook post, Andriy Sybiha, deputy director of the Ukrainian president’s office, also revealed the meeting, claiming the two met “one-on-one” in Kyiv.

Johnson’s visit was hailed by Downing Street as a “display of unity with the Ukrainian people,” with talks with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko focusing on long-term support and fresh financial and military aid.

On Friday, Johnson stated that the United Kingdom would deliver more Starstreak anti-air missiles, 800 anti-tank missiles, and other “high-grade military weapons” worth $130 million to help the Ukrainian army combat Russia.

The prime minister linked his latest commitment of military support to the Kyiv government to a devastating attack on Kramatorsk train station in eastern Donetsk area, where at least 52 people were murdered by Russian bombing on Friday.

Johnson told reporters beside German Chancellor Olaf Scholz that Russia’s attack on the railway station “shows the depths to which [Vladimir] Putin’s once-vaunted force has plummeted.”

While European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell were in Ukraine, Johnson met with the German leader at Downing Street.

The missile attack on the station, which was crowded with women, children, and the elderly, prompted President Zelenskyy to urge for a “strong worldwide response.”

Approximately 4,000 people were gathering there at the time of the blast, according to local officials.

Russia’s defence ministry denied culpability for the attack, stating in a statement that the missiles that damaged the station were solely fired by Ukrainian forces and that Russia’s armed forces had no targets in Kramatorsk on Friday.

According to the ministry, all statements made by Ukrainian officials in response to the incident were “provocations.”