Boris Johnson has arrived in Ukraine in a show of support for the beleaguered nation on the second anniversary of Putin’s brutal invasion.
The former British prime minister joins a number of allies who have arrived to show solidarity with Ukraine as the war enters its third year.
Writing on X, formerly Twitter, this morning Johnson said: ‘On this grim second anniversary of Putin’s invasion I am honoured to be here in Ukraine.
‘With their indomitable courage I have no doubt that the Ukrainians will win and expel Putin’s forces – provided we give them the military, political and economic help that they need.’
He shared a photo of him standing with Zelenskyy in Borodianka, Kyiv region in January last year on one of numerous visits to the war-torn state.
It came as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni arrived in Kyiv to preside over a virtual meeting on Ukraine with G7 to discuss new sanctions against Russia.
Johnson announced on X he was in Ukraine today, sharing this picture from January last year
Ukraine president Zelensky pictured during a Joint meeting in Kyiv, 24 February 2024
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni arriving in Kyiv on February 24, 2024 to preside over a G7 virtual meeting on Ukraine on the second anniversary of the Russian invasion
Johnson’s premiership saw record support for Ukraine, Britain quickly becoming the second-largest donor after the United States.
The former prime minister has maintained strong relations with Ukrainian leader Zelenskyy since leaving office.
Ninety minutes after resigning in July 2022, Johnson called Zelenskyy to say his people had the UK’s unwavering support in its fight against Russia, and said Britain would continue to supply vital aid for as long as needed.
Johnson, who held the top role when Russia invaded on February 24, 2022, travelled to Ukraine a year after stepping down to receive an honorary degree from the University of Lviv.
His arrival today coincides with a virtual summit of G7 leaders due to take place at Kyiv’s Saint Sophia Cathedral later Saturday with Zelenskyy attending.
Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau and Belgian prime minister Alexander De Croo arrived in Kyiv today to take part in the G7 summit.
They travelled with the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on an overnight train from neighbouring Poland.
Their presence was designed to underline the West’s commitment to helping Ukraine even as it suffers growing shortages of military supplies, impacting its performance on the battlefield where Moscow is grinding out territorial gains.
Von der Leyen wrote on the social media platform X that she was in Kyiv ‘to celebrate the extraordinary resistance of the Ukrainian people’. She added: ‘More than ever, we stand firmly by Ukraine. Financially, economically, militarily, morally. Until the country is finally free.’
British prime minister Rishi Sunak also voiced support for Ukraine’s plight in an address to mark the second anniversary.
The Prime Minister declared that ‘tyranny will never triumph’ as he said Britain will do ‘whatever it takes, for as long as it takes’ to help them win.
Mr Sunak said: ‘When Putin launched his illegal invasion… the free world was united in its response.
‘We stood together behind Ukraine. And on this grim anniversary, we must renew our determination.
‘This is the moment to show that tyranny will never triumph and to say once again that we will stand with Ukraine today and tomorrow. We are prepared to do whatever it takes, for as long as it takes, until they prevail.’
The prime minister visited Kyiv last month to sign a new security agreement and announce more military funding for Ukraine.
On Friday, US President Joe Biden also announced 500 new sanctions targeting Russia’s ‘financial sector, defence industrial base and procurement networks’ in light of the shock death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in a grisly Arctic penal colony on February 16.
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a presentation in Kazan, February 22, 2024
The US also imposed sanctions following news of the death of Alexei Navalny on February 16
The new restrictions were described as ‘crushing’ by a high-level State Department official on Thursday, who also claimed they would target officials ‘directly involved in Navalny’s death’. Moscow still denies involvement in the shock death last Friday.
The US will also impose new export restrictions on nearly 100 entities for providing support to Russia and take action to further reduce Russia’s energy revenues, Biden said in a statement.
‘They will ensure Putin pays an even steeper price for his aggression abroad and repression at home,’ the president said of the sanctions.
