British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is planning to make a final trip to Kyiv following his recent resignation, a close ally has said.
The outgoing PM, whom President Volodymyr Zelensky referred to as “a true friend of Ukraine”, visited Kyiv for a second time in June, during which he met with the President and delivered a statement assuring Ukrainians of the UK’s continued support, along with the promise of providing further military and humanitarian aid.
Under Mr Johnson’s leadership, Great Britain was one of the first nations to offer its support to embattled Ukraine, and to openly condemn Russia’s brutal and unprovoked invasion.
To date, the UK government has provided billions-of-dollars-worth of aid, including £2.3bn in military assistance since the war began.
Speaking to The Telegraph, an unnamed close ally of Johnson said: “He is really feeling the burden of responsibility having been Zelensky’s biggest backer. He can’t just walk away and not make sure the world has got his back. He is hoping to see him again before he leaves office.”
In his resignation speech, Johnson reassured President Zelensky of his and the UK’s continued support, saying: “Let me say now to the people of Ukraine that I know that we in the UK will continue to back your fight for freedom for as long as it takes.”
At the weekend, the Conservative Party leader participated in a training exercise at an undisclosed location, where he took part in learning how to throw grenades, shoot assault rifles, and use top-of-the-range rocket launchers.
Donned in full camouflage gear, the leader of the Conservative Party posted a video of the experience on Twitter, saying: “This week I visited Ukrainian troops being trained by British Armed Forces in North Yorkshire.
“The UK is committed to doing all we can to help Ukraine continue to repel Russian aggression,” he said.
“That comes on top of the investment we’re making in supporting Ukrainians with weaponry, 6900 anti-tank weapons, 120 armoured vehicles and much else besides including now the multiple launch rocket systems that together the Americans, Germans and others we’re providing really are starting to make a difference.”
