‘We’ll send you pilots who’ve already done 2.5 years’: Zelensky swipes at Rishi Sunak’s claim it takes three years to train to fly UK fighter jets as leaders hold joint press conference – while Russia threatens ‘response’ if Britain does supply planes
- Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky has been visiting UK for first time since country was invaded by Russia
- Rishi Sunak has asked Defence Secretary to look at options for supplying fighter jets to help Kyiv’s forces
Volodymyr Zelensky had a gentle dig at Rishi Sunak tonight after the PM told a joint press conference it will take time to train Ukraine pilots for Nato fighter jets.
After touring a training base for troops in Dorset with Mr Zelensky on his first visit to the UK since the invasion, the PM said the West must ‘arm Ukraine in the short term’ and ‘bolster’ it in the long-term.
Pushed on whether the UK would provide jets, he said ‘nothing is off the table’ and stressed that Britain is now going to start preparing the Ukrainian air force.
But he cautioned that ‘first step’ will take ‘some time’. ‘Throughout this conflict we have been out in front,’ he said denying there was any ‘reticence’. He said it was important Ukraine pilots can ‘actually operate the aircraft that they will be using’.
For his part Mr Zelensky said the discussions had been ‘fruitful’ and voiced gratitude. But he said the war could ‘stagnate’ if jets are not fortcoming from the West. ‘Come on, we will be sending you pilots who’ve already trained for two and a half years,’ he joked.
The exchange came after Boris Johnson urged the UK to offer all its fighter jets and tanks to Ukraine, saying countering Russian aggression was the ‘best use’ for the UK’s 100 Typhoon jets and similar stocks of Challenger tanks.
Moscow has threatened a ‘response’ if the government does supply planes, with some Nato states concerned about provoking a direct clash.
Earlier, the Ukrainian President was given a rapturous reception when he gave a speech to MPs and Peers n Westminster Hall.
Watched by Rishi Sunak, and with Mr Johnson in the audience, Mr Zelensky insisted that more help will be needed to defeat the Russian aggressors. He presented Speaker Lindsay Hoyle with a helmet signed by one of Kyiv’s top pilots and appealed for the UK to supply ‘powerful’ aircraft – after Mr Sunak announced that Britain will train forces in how to fly them.
The message on the helmet read: ‘We have freedom, give us wings to protect it.’
Amid splits within Nato on how far to go in suppling air power, Mr Zelensky added: ‘Combat aircraft for Ukraine, wings for freedom.’
At a joint press conference with Volodymyr Zelensky following a tour of a training base for troops in Dorset, Rishi Sunak said the West must ‘arm Ukraine in the short term’ and ‘bolster’ it in the long-term
Mr Zelensky said he had come on behalf of the ‘brave’ who were ‘in the trenches under enemy artillery fire’. ‘We know Russia will lose. We really know that victory will change the world.’
Mr Zelensky singled out Mr Johnson for praise for helping unite the international community behind Ukraine when it seemed ‘impossible’.
‘The people of the United Kingdom and their honourable representatives, all the people of England and Scotland, of Wales and Northern Ireland, of all the lands which have been home to brave souls since Europe came into existence,’ Mr Zelensky said.
‘I have come here and stand before you on behalf of the brave, on behalf of our war heroes who are now in the trenches under enemy artillery fire, on behalf of our air gunners, and every defender of the sky who protects Ukraine against enemy aircraft and missiles, on behalf of our tank men who fight to restore our Ukrainian borders, on behalf of our conscripts who are being trained now including here in Britain.
‘Thank you, Britain.’
Mr Zelensky said: ‘London has stood with Kyiv since day one, from the first seconds and minutes of the full-scale war, Great Britain you extended your helping hand when the world had not yet come to understand how to react.
‘Boris: you got others united when it seemed absolutely impossible. Thank you.’
Speaking in Westminster Hall, Volodymyr Zelensky said he had come on behalf of the ‘brave’ who were ‘in the trenches under enemy artillery fire’. ‘We know Russia will lose. We really know that victory will change the world.’
Many politicians in the crowd wanted to record the historic moment on their phones
Mr Zelensky presented Speaker Lindsay Hoyle with a helmet signed by one of Kyiv’s top pilots and appealed for the UK to supply ‘powerful’ aircraft – after Mr Sunak announced that Britain will train forces in how to fly them
The Ukrainian President was given a rapturous reception as he arrived in the historic building to deliver a speech on his first visit since the invasion
Political differences were put aside today as Ukraine’s president Zelensky visited for the first time since the Russian invasion
Mr Zelensky singled out Boris Johnson for praise, saying he had united the international community when it seemed ‘impossible’ – and after the speech the two men shook hands and chatted
Volodymyr Zelensky hailed Britain’s ‘big support’ for Ukraine today as he held talks with Rishi Sunak in Downing Street
In a statement after the speech, Mr Johnson said: ‘It is time to give the Ukrainians the extra equipment they need to defeat Putin and to restore peace to Ukraine. That means longer range missiles and artillery. It means more tanks. It means planes. We have more than 100 Typhoon jets. We have more than 100 Challenger 2 tanks.
‘The best single use for any of these items is to deploy them now for the protection of the Ukrainians – not least because that is how we guarantee our own long-term security.
‘Today’s investment in helping Ukraine will avert instability and chaos for years to come. By helping Ukraine to push back Putin, we can make our world safer – and above all, save an innocent country from destruction.’
Mr Johnson acknowledged that ‘the Typhoon is a four-nation plane and we require the approval of allies for export’.
But he said : ‘There is no reason to think that Germany or others should oppose our decision – these are UK planes.
Sunak gives Zelensky a spent bullet casing from salute to Queen
Rishi Sunak gave Volodymyr Zelensky an unusual gift as he welcomed the Ukrainian president to the UK for the first time since Russia invaded his country.
The Prime Minister presented his guest with a spent bullet casing from the 62-gun salute from the Tower of London following the Queen’s death, Downing Street said.
The pair shared a breakfast of croissants in the Prime Minister’s No 10 flat, together with Mr Sunak’s wife Akshata Murthy.
Ms Murthy gave Ukraine’s first lady Olena Zelenska a £StandWithUkraine sunflower scarf from Aspinal, the proceeds of which go to the Centre for Women’s Perspectives in Ukraine.
Mr Sunak’s spokesman told reporters: ‘The Prime Minister has given President Zelensky a spent bullet casing from the 62-gun salute from the Tower of London following the death of Her Majesty the Queen.
‘As you’ll know, following the death of the Queen, President Zelensky paid tribute to her selfless service to her people and said she would forever remain in the history of mankind.’
‘Every time we have stepped up with more military support the Ukrainians have responded and turned the tide of war. Now is the time to give them exactly what they need to finish the job,’ Mr Johnson added.
Speaking to LBC later, Mr Johnson said: ‘The point I would make is the faster we do it, the better. The faster we do it, the bigger the saving in life.
‘The bigger the saving in our defence expenditure. Because ultimately once Putin is beaten in Ukraine, the world is going to be a much, much safer place. So helping the Ukrainians now is a massive down-payment on future security.’
Mr Sunak has ordered Defence Secretary Ben Wallace to look at whether jets can be provided, and the UK is starting to train pilots.
While the UK operates F-35 and Typhoon jets, the older F-16s widely operated by other Nato countries have been seen as more likely to be supplied to Ukraine.
Downing Street said the first Ukrainian pilots should arrive in the spring, but warned the training can take five years.
The PM’s official spokesman said: ‘I think we are keen to do whatever is possible to get these pilots trained up as fast as possible. But these are complex pieces of military equipment. And as you know the current training period for UK pilots is around five years.
‘We think this is right to provide both short-term equipment like Challenger tanks, additional guns, longer-range capabilities that can help win the war now, but also look to the medium-to-long term to ensure Ukraine has every possible capability it requires.
‘The Prime Minister has tasked the Defence Secretary with investigating what jets we might be able to give but, to be clear, this is a long-term solution rather than a short-term capability, which is what Ukraine needs most now.’
Mr Zelensky shared a warm embrace with Mr Sunak earlier as he landed at Stansted Airport in Essex for his surprise visit. They then returned to London for talks.
Mr Zelensky warned in his speech that ‘evil’ was still present in his country and it needed to fight on.
He said: ‘Evil is still around around today and the battle continues. Yes, we know how it’s going to end and how we are going to feel on the day victory comes. Every day we continue to pay with lives.
‘Pain and tears for bringing victory closer, with the lives of our people, our heroes, whom we lose in battles, with the lives of our heroes who take life and death risks every day to save as many of our soldiers and civilians as possible.’
Mr Zelensky said Ukraine’s call for a ‘special compensation mechanism, which will compensate war losses at the expense of Russian assets’ is based on the principle that ‘anyone who invests in violence must compensate those who have suffered from terror’.
He thanked Mr Sunak and the UK for providing battle tanks: ‘Thank you very much for this powerful defensive step.’
But he continued: ‘It’s not just I’m not speaking just about weapons. We prove together, that the world truly helps those who are brave in defending freedom and thus paves the way for a new history’, he said.
‘A history of the world that knows how to be quick in help, who knows how to be effective in the defence. Who knows how to remain principled in dark hours. Who implements its treaties and arrangements in good faith. Who does not allow perpetrators to enjoy immunity.
‘Who knows how to overcome veto when it’s abused. Who knows no fear and who knows how to win. This shall be the new reality of the free world I’m sure.’
Mr Zelensky said he was looking forward to his audience with King Charles later, referencing the monarch’s own military service. ‘In Britain, the king is an air force pilot and in Ukraine today, every air force pilot is a king.’
He ended the speech by thanking Britain ‘in advance’ for fighter jets.
The Ukrainian president said: ‘Thank you for your attention, thank you for your support,’ he said.
‘And I will be leaving the Parliament today thanking all of you in advance for powerful English planes.’
The remark prompted laughter among the MPs and peers gathered in Westminster Hall.
Mr Zelensky ended his speech by saying: ‘God Bless Great Britain and long, long live the King. Slava Ukraini.’
Before the Westminster Hall speech MPs put on a show of unity at PMQs, promising to stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine. He has spoken to Parliament before, but only via video link.
Speaking in No10, Mr Zelensky thanked the British people ‘for your big support from the first days of full-scale invasion’.
‘Thank you so much Rishi for inviting me and for me great honour to be here in Britain,’ he added.
The Ukrainian President was greeted with applause as he walked into No10 over a red carpet laid out in Downing Street.
He will also use his surprise visit to meet with some of his Ukrainian troops being trained in Britain.
Mr Sunak today pledged extra military support for Ukraine, including – crucially – the training of Ukrainian fighter jet pilots.
Britain also announced a new round of sanctions on the Russian military and Kremlin elites, in a bid to further tighten the economic squeeze on Vladimir Putin’s regime.
After speaking with Mr Zelensky in Downing Street, Mr Sunak took PMQs in the Commons where he told MPs he was ‘delighted’ the Ukrainian President had been able to visit.
‘It is a testament to the unbreakable friendship between our two countries,’ he said.
Mr Sunak met the Ukraine president at Stansted after he touched down for the surprise visit
Mr Zelensky was wearing his trademark military fatigues as he embraced Mr Sunak at Stansted
The PM and Mr Zelensky walked into Downing Street together under the glare of the waiting media
Mr Zelensky was guided into No10, where the held talks, by the PM this morning
The leaders shook hands and posed for photographs outside the famous black door
Mr Zelensky was clapped into Downing Street by staff as he arrived today
‘I am proud that we are expanding the training for Ukrainian forces to include jet pilots and marines, and ensure that Ukraine has a military able to defend its interests today and in to the future.’
The PM added both the country and the Commons can be ‘proud that we came together to stand by Ukraine when the moment mattered’.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer told MPs that Mr Zelensky has ‘symbolised the heroism, the resolve, and the bravery of his people’ since Russia’s invasion.
The PM welcomed the Ukrainian President to the UK this morning, as he visits for the first time since Russia’s invasion
Mr Zelensky wrote on his Instagram account that he was in London to ‘personally thank the British people for their support’
Mr Sunak travelled to Ukraine to meet Mr Zelensky in November, shortly after he became PM
UK to train Ukraine fighter pilots
Ukrainian pilots are to be trained by the UK to fly sophisticated Nato fighter planes in the latest show of support for Volodymyr Zelensky’s forces.
The UK will also offer an intermediate training programme for Ukrainian marines and has promised an ‘immediate surge’ of military equipment including longer-range weapons.
Downing Street said the Government is following a ‘two-pronged’ approach, with more military kit now to counter a spring offensive by Russia, with long-term support for the future.
Although Ukraine is desperate for fighter jets immediately to counter the Russian air force, the length of the required training means that No 10 has said the pilot programme is a ‘long-term capability investment’.
The training will ensure pilots are able to fly sophisticated Nato-standard fighter jets in the future.
While the UK operates F-35 and Typhoon jets, the older F-16s widely operated by other Nato countries are more likely to be supplied to Ukraine, should Western leaders agree to Mr Zelensky’s requests.
Some 10,000 Ukrainian recruits have been trained in the UK in the past six months.
The first troops arrived in Britain last week to learn how to command Challenger 2 tanks, following the PM’s decision to provide the kit.
King Charles greeted Mr Zelensky with a wide smile and a warm handshake in the Palace’s 1844 Room, saying he was delighted to meet him.
The president is on his first visit to the UK since the Russian invasion of his country began and in an earlier impassioned address to Parliament revealed he was planning to take the opportunity to thank Charles for the support he had shown Ukraine as the Prince of Wales.
The pair discussed the conflict in Ukraine and the part Britain has played in supporting the nation, Buckingham Palace said.
In the opulent room, Mr Zelensky told the King that it was ‘a great honour to be here’, adding: ‘Thank you for finding the time for me.’
The King said: ‘We’ve all been worried about you and thinking about your country for so long, I can’t tell you.’
Mr Zelensky replied: ‘Thank you so much.’
The King said he had heard that the president had addressed both Houses of Parliament earlier in the day.
Mr Zelensky said what a ‘big support’ they had been.
The monarch replied: ‘I’m so glad.’
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly this morning unveiled a new package of sanctions aimed at six companies providing military equipment for Russia’s continued bombardment of Ukraine.
This included the manufacturer of drones being used to destroy Ukrainian combat vehicles, a company making parts for Russian helicopters, and a software firm involved in military aviation.
Sanctions were also slapped on a group linked to Mr Putin through opaque financial networks.
This included five individuals connected to the Russian President’s luxury residents, including the 100 billion rouble ‘Putin’s Palace’ and his lakeside Dacha.
Mr Cleverly said: ‘Ukraine has shown Putin that it will not break under his tyrannical invasion.
‘He has responded by indiscriminately striking civilian areas and critical national infrastructure across the country.
‘We cannot let him succeed. We must increase our support.
‘These new sanctions accelerate the economic pressure on Putin – undermining his war machine to help Ukraine prevail.
‘I am determined, consistent with our laws, that Russia will have no access to the assets we have frozen until it ends, once and for all, its threats to Ukraine’s territorial sovereignty and integrity.’
Ukrainian pilots are to be trained by the UK to fly sophisticated Nato fighter planes in the latest show of support for Mr Zelensky’s forces.
The UK will also offer an intermediate training programme for Ukrainian marines and has promised an ‘immediate surge’ of military equipment including longer-range weapons.
Downing Street said the Government is following a ‘two-pronged’ approach, with more military kit now to counter a spring offensive by Russia, with long-term support for the future.
Although Ukraine is desperate for fighter jets immediately to counter the Russian air force, the length of the required training means that No 10 has said the pilot programme is a ‘long-term capability investment’.
The training will ensure pilots are able to fly sophisticated Nato-standard fighter jets in the future.
Mr Zelensky convoy weaved its way through London after his arrival this morning
There was very tight security for the Ukrainian president on his first trip since Russia invaded
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