Zelenskyy, touring Europe, wins UK pledge to train pilots on NATO jets
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hosts the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy at number 10 Downing Street on February 8, 2023 in London, England, Britain.
Dan Kitwood | Reuters
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy embarked on a European tour to drum up aid, winning a British pledge to train Ukrainian pilots on advanced NATO fighter jets, a big step up in Western military support.
On just his second trip abroad since Russian forces invaded Ukraine last year, he met British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and addressed parliament in London.
He was later due in Paris for dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, before a European Union leaders’ summit in Brussels.
In his speech to British lawmakers, Zelenskyy repeatedly hammered home his plea for combat aircraft, which he referred to as “wings for freedom.” Western countries have so far stopped short of providing warplanes or weapons that can strike deep inside Russia.
Ukraine “will do everything possible and impossible to make the world provide us with modern planes to empower and protect pilots who will be protecting us,” Zelenskyy said. He gave a pilot’s helmet to parliamentary speaker Lindsay Hoyle carrying the message: “We have freedom, give us wings to protect it.”
— Reuters
Zelenskyy tells UK ‘freedom will win,’ pushes for warplanes
Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy gives a peace sign as he is applauded by Speaker of the House of Lords, Lord McFall, (L) and Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle (R) after he addressed parliamentarians in Westminster Hall on February 8, 2023 in London, England.
Stefan Rousseau | Getty Images
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pushed for fighter jets to ensure his country’s victory over Russia in a dramatic speech before the U.K. Parliament, where he also thanked the British people for their support since “Day One” of Moscow’s invasion.
The…
Read the full article here
