New Delhi: Amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Saturday (April 9, 2022) visited Kyiv during his surprise visit to the war-torn country and walked through the centre of the national capital with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
In a video clip shared by Johnson, the two leaders can be seen walking on the heavily guarded streets of Kyiv.
"The Ukrainians have the courage of a lion. President Zelenskyy has given the roar of that lion. The UK stands unwaveringly with the people of Ukraine," he wrote on Twitter.
The Ukrainians have the courage of a lion.
President @ZelenskyyUa has given the roar of that lion.
The UK stands unwaveringly with the people of Ukraine.
Slava Ukraini pic.twitter.com/u6vGYqmK4V
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) April 9, 2022
The Ukrainian government also shared an over two-minute-long video where Boris and Zelenskyy can be seen greeting passersby as they walk through Kyiv's main Kreshchatyk street to the Maidan square.
because they bloody can pic.twitter.com/FaTUt0lvP6
— Ukraine / (@Ukraine) April 9, 2022
In the midst of ruins, on the wall of a building half-destroyed by a russian half-ton bomb, a cupboard with utensils miraculously stood. As if nothing had happened, with a ceramic rooster on top. This photo went viral in Ukraine: "If he survived, we can!"#BRAVEUKRAINE
(2/2)— Defence of Ukraine (@DefenceU) April 10, 2022
During his visit, Johnson also held in-depth discussions with Zelenskyy on military and economic assistance and set out new military assistance of 120 armoured vehicles and new anti-ship missile systems, to support Ukraine in the ongoing conflict with Vladimir Putin's forces.
"Ukraine has defied the odds and pushed back Russian forces from the gates of Kyiv, achieving the greatest feat of arms of the 21st century," said Johnson.
"It is because of President Zelenskyy's resolute leadership and the invincible heroism and courage of the Ukrainian people that Putin's monstrous aims are being thwarted. I made clear today that the United Kingdom stands unwaveringly with them in this ongoing fight, and we are in it for the long run," he stated.
Britain also will continue to ratchet up its sanctions on Russia and move away from using Russian hydrocarbons, Johnson said.
The support aims to ensure that "Ukraine can never be bullied again, never will be blackmailed again, never will be threatened in the same way again," he added.
Johnson was the latest foreign leader to visit Kyiv after Russian forces pulled back from areas around the capital just over a week ago.
Today I met my friend President @ZelenskyyUa in Kyiv as a show of our unwavering support for the people of Ukraine.
We're setting out a new package of financial & military aid which is a testament of our commitment to his country's struggle against Russia’s barbaric campaign. pic.twitter.com/KNY0Nm6NQ3
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) April 9, 2022
Russia's invasion, which began on February 24, has so far forced around a quarter of the population of 44 million to leave their homes and has turned cities into rubble and killed or injured thousands.
(With agency inputs)
