Britain’s prime minister on Friday made his second visit to Kyiv in just over two months, offering Kyiv a military training programme as President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed Britain’s “resolute” support.
“Many days of this war have proved that Great Britain’s support for Ukraine is firm and resolute. Glad to see our country’s great friend Boris Johnson in Kyiv again,” Zelensky wrote on Telegram with a video of him greeting the British leader at the presidential palace.
“Mr. President, Volodymyr, it is good to be in Kyiv again,” wrote Johnson on his official Twitter account.
The visit came a day after the European Union’s most powerful heads of state embraced Ukraine’s bid to be accepted as a candidate for EU membership, nearly four months into the Russian invasion.
It followed European Commission backing for Kyiv being granted EU candidacy status in a move likely to be formalized at an EU leaders’ summit on June 23-24.
Such a move would be a potent symbol of support for Kyiv in its conflict with Russia.
Johnson became the first leader of a G7 country to visit Kyiv on April 9, two weeks after Russian troops had been driven back from the suburbs of the capital.
He was filmed on a walkabout through Kyiv’s deserted streets with Zelensky in a move acclaimed by Ukrainians for his show of solidarity, prompting the president to say Britain’s support for Ukraine would “remain forever in history”.
