In London, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Keir Starmer held their first meeting in the format of a strategic dialogue and signed the Ukraine-UK Enhanced Security and Defence Industrial Collaboration Declaration.
“Thank you for your support and for your personal efforts to help us, and thank you to the United Kingdom for standing with us throughout this difficult winter – it was truly a very hard winter. And, thank God, it is already behind us, but we cannot simply stop – we must move very quickly,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
The main focus of the meeting was the development of joint defence production and strengthening Ukraine’s air defence with additional missiles for air defence systems. The President outlined the situation on the front line, Russian attacks, and Ukraine’s needs to protect lives. The leaders discussed opportunities and ways to ensure the necessary number of missiles.
The President and the Prime Minister also discussed the situation in the Middle East and the Gulf region.
“I believe it is crucial for us to make it clear that Ukraine must remain the focus of our attention. Second, it is very important for us to remain clear and consistent that Putin must not benefit from the conflict in Iran, whether through oil prices or through the weakening of sanctions. It is crucial that we remain resolute in our support for Ukraine and do everything possible to weaken Putin’s position,” Keir Starmer emphasized.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Keir Starmer also discussed diplomatic efforts to achieve a dignified peace and the decisions needed to strengthen sanctions against Russia, including efforts to counter Russia’s tanker fleet.
