Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February last year, the UK has spent £2.3bn on military assistance, making it the second biggest donor behind the US.

The government says it plans to match this spending again this year.

Financial restrictions have also been imposed on Russians and more than 100,000 Ukrainian refugees have been welcomed to the UK.

Military equipment provided so far includes:

• Several air defence systems, including Starstreak, designed to bring down low-flying aircraft at short range.
• Challenger 2 tanks
• M270 multiple-launch rocket systems with M31A1 precision munitions
• Next-generation light anti-tank weapons, or Nlaw
• Maritime Brimstone missiles
• Armoured vehicles, including Mastiff patrol vehicles
• Heavy lift unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems to provide logistical support to isolated force
• Electronic warfare equipment
• AS90 self-propelled artillery guns
• Hundreds of thousands of rounds of 155mm ammunition

Frank Gardner
Security correspondent

Image source, PA Media

President Zelensky is an extraordinary phenomenon, a mould-breaker in international politics. Few were surprised when he was named Time Magazine’s 2022 Person of the Year.

As Ukraine’s charismatic and outspoken president, he has done more than anyone else in his country to rally support for it in the West. He has done this in two ways:

• Firstly, he defied Kremlin expectations and stayed put in Kyiv. When the Russians invaded and the US offered to evacuate him, he famously replied: “The fight is here. I need ammunition, not a ride”
• Secondly, he has made a point of constantly addressing audiences both home and abroad, dressed in his trademark military-style T-shirt, stiffening Ukrainian resolve while pleading for more Nato weaponry

His background was not military, it was in popular TV entertainment, even playing the part of an imaginary president before he won the election and took on the job for real.

Political leaders in the West have been impressed by his bravery – he reportedly has to move location daily to avoid being targeted.

But the longer this war goes on without a decisive Ukrainian victory, the greater the risk that his western backers will eventually ask him to make a compromise deal with Moscow.

Hence the urgency of his visit this week as fresh Russian forces gather on his borders in their hundreds of thousands, waiting for a spring offensive.

Image source, PA Media

On that note, President Zelensky and Rishi Sunak have just arrived by helicopter at Lulworth Camp in Dorset.

The pair will now meet Ukrainian troops being trained by the British Army.

Downing Street has just released some details of what the rest of President Zelensky's UK trip will include.

This afternoon, PM Rishi Sunak will join him on a visit to Ukrainian troops training in the south-west of England.

They'll get to see soldiers being trained in using Challenger 2 tanks and will sign the London Declaration – a joint statement which No 10 says will fortify the partnership between the UK and Ukraine.

The two leaders will also give a news conference later on. Stay with us for live updates from that.

It feels like quite a momentous day in terms of the war in Ukraine as President Zelensky made his first foreign visit to the UK since Russia invaded almost 12 months ago.

He landed at Stansted Airport just after 10:15 GMT this morning and met PM Rishi Sunak on the tarmac.

Since then he's been taken to Downing Street and Westminster, where he addressed both Houses of Parliament.

A visit to Buckingham Palace to meet the King was next on the agenda, and we still have a press conference to come from him and Sunak before the day is up.

For now here's a recap of photos marking today's key moments.

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Meeting Zelensky more than a photo op for the Kingpublished at 16:22 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2023

16:22 GMT 8 February 2023

Sean Coughlan
Royal correspondent

It’s been a deeply personal cause. The King has been unusually outspoken about Ukraine, so the president’s visit will mean much more than a handshake and a photograph.

After the Russian invasion, the then Prince of Wales condemned “brutal aggression” in language much stronger than the usually neutral royal tones.

The King made a point of visiting the Ukrainian community in the UK, going to the Ukrainian Cathedral in London and meeting those helping refugees. His mother, the late Queen, had been photographed in front of flowers that seemed to be not accidentally a vivid mix of the Ukrainian colours of blue and yellow.

The King was the first senior royal to go to the region where millions of refugees were coming across the border from Ukraine, on a surprise visit to Romania last May. In a help centre, where food, clothes and advice were being distributed, he talked about the “nightmare” facing the Ukrainian people.

Nine months later, Charles is greeting the president as King, and the war is still continuing.

We've just heard Zelensky's reflections on meeting King Charles this afternoon, so here's a bit more about what they talked about.

We're told the King said to Zelensky that he was delighted to welcome him to Buckingham Palace.

“We’ve all been worried about you and thinking about your country for so long, I can’t tell you,” he told him.

Zelensky said what a "big support" both Houses of Parliament had been to Ukraine, to which the monarch told him: "I'm so glad."

Zelensky has said he is grateful to King Charles for the "warm welcome" this afternoon and for "supporting Ukrainian citizens who have taken refuge from the war in the United Kingdom".

"It is an honor for me to be the first President of Ukraine in the history of Ukrainian-British relations to be honored by the British monarch with an audience," Zelensky said on Instagram.

He said he congratulated King Charles on his accession to the throne and "wished peace and prosperity to the British people".

Planes a possibility but a 'long-term solution' - No 10published at 16:03 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2023

16:03 GMT 8 February 2023

Iain Watson
Political correspondent

More now on what Downing Street has just tasked Ben Wallace with -

The defence secretary will look into what planes the UK might be able to provide - but the PM's official spokesman stressed this was a "long-term solution".

He said the first Ukrainian air crew to be trained would arrive "in the spring" and they would be given the skills to fly the new generation of fighter jets.

But "no decision has been taken" on whether any planes would be provided, the spokesman added.

He stressed it took five years to train British pilots to fly Typhoons and while they would look at whether it's possible to truncate this, the government was looking at a "multi-year approach" - but he could not say how many pilots would be trained.

When asked if President Zelensky requested the planes when he met the PM this morning, the spokesman replied that there had only been a brief conversation, not a bilateral, ahead of PMQs.

After the personal tribute paid to him in Westminster Hall by President Zelensky earlier, Boris Johnson is increasing the pressure on the government to supply Ukraine with British fighter jets.

In a statement, he says: "'It is time to give the Ukrainians the extra equipment they need to defeat Putin and to restore peace to Ukraine. That means longer range missiles and artillery. It means more tanks. It means planes.

"We have more than 100 Typhoon jets. We have more than 100 Challenger 2 tanks. The best single use for any of these items is to deploy them now for the protection of the Ukrainians - not least because that is how we guarantee our own long-term security."

Defence Minister Ben Wallace is "actively" looking into whether the UK government may be able to sent military jets to Ukraine, according to the prime minister's spokesperson.

The spokesperson stressed that the government has not yet made a decision - but wants to start the fighter training for Ukrainian pilots as soon as possible.

Jessica Parker
Brussels correspondent

While many will welcome the ongoing show of support for Ukraine – and President Zelensky’s London visit – over in Brussels, there’s a touch of embarrassment.

The Ukrainian leader is expected to be here tomorrow to address the European Parliament and meet with leaders from across the 27 member states.

But the trip has, from a diplomatic standpoint, been a bit marred.

Firstly because the rumoured visit was leaked days in advance which is in stark contrast to the president’s US and UK “surprise” visits which were successfully kept under wraps.

Not only is there exasperation that the European Union sieve dripped out such an important secret, the leaks also led to speculation that the visit could be called off because of security concerns.

As it happens, it’s still yet to be officially confirmed.

Then there’s the fact that the widely rumoured visit to Brussels *was* being billed as the President’s second overseas trip since Russia’s invasion.

Turns out he had stopovers in London and Paris first. Remember the EU’s most senior figures, Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel, were in Kyiv only last week.

Some egos, diplomats believe, will be bruised. Especially given Ukraine’s ambition of becoming an EU member by 2026.

“I don't understand the strategic choice made here,” said one diplomat.

“If you truly believe that the EU is the destiny of your country, then you would make sure to come here first to signal that importance.”

Of course, in the context of war, such considerations may be dismissed as petty and insignificant.

But, make no mistake, Downing Street will be pleased at the order of events and some, within the EU, may be rather miffed.

Image source, PA Media

President Zelensky has left Buckingham palace following his audience with the King.

Dressed in normal combat clothing, Zelensky shook hands with Lt Col Thompson before leaving in his motorcade.

Later today, Zelensky is going to Paris to meet French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, as well as meeting EU leaders in Brussels tomorrow.

It's a busy day for Zelensky.

He's already met Rishi Sunak, addressed Parliament and met King Charles.

We're now hearing he's also going to Paris later, that's according to a spokesperson for the French presidency.

Zelensky will meet French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the Elysee Palace.

He is then expected in Brussels on Thursday to attend a European Union summit.

President Zelensky has met King Charles at Buckingham Palace, as part of his surprise visit to the UK.

The two leaders were pictured standing together as the King held an audience with the Ukrainian president.

It was the first time the monarch had met Zelensky.

Zelensky told MPs earlier that he would convey his gratitude to the King, from all Ukrainians, for his support even when he was still the Prince of Wales.

Zelensky hoping minds can be changedpublished at 14:41 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2023

14:41 GMT 8 February 2023

Jonathan Beale
BBC defence correspondent

Zelensky has made an impassioned plea for Britain to give Ukraine fast jets, but it still doesn’t look likely that he’ll get them – at least for now.

Justin Bronk, senior research fellow for air power at the RUSI think-tank, says: “I would be surprised if the UK supplied Ukraine with any of its fast jets”, adding the RAF simply doesn’t have the numbers.

Rishi Sunak has promised that the UK will help train Ukrainian pilots. But, so far, not the jets to fly in.

Discussions between the UK Ministry of Defence and Ukraine are still ongoing as to what that training would involve. But Bronk says that it is likely to involve helping existing Ukrainian pilots to learn Nato tactics, techniques and procedures – rather than actually flying.

That could be done with simulators or in a classroom. Bronk says Western air tactics are considerably more sophisticated than Russia’s air force.

Any UK training offer is only likely to involve existing fast jet pilots. Ukraine now has more qualified pilots than it has aircraft and the RAF is also still struggling to train its pilots.

It is still possible that a few Western nations could provide a small number of modern fighter jets to Ukraine at some time in the future. Kyiv has made clear it would like US made F-16s. They’re operated by a number of Nato countries, but so far President Biden has said no.

Another option is the Swedish-made Grippen. There are fewer of them, but they can operate from short runways – like roads.

Western nations have said no in the past – and then changed their minds. President Zelensky is clearly hoping that minds can be changed.

Questions for Sunak is now: Will the UK supply war planes?published at 14:28 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2023

14:28 GMT 8 February 2023

Chris Mason
Political editor

Image source, PA Media

A packed Westminster Hall, poised to applaud at any moment a leader who’s become the face and voice of his country. But President Zelensky came here with a specific request, packaged in powerful rhetoric.

"We have freedom. Give us wings to protect it."

Ukraine wants British fighter planes. That is how it defines support now, beyond the cheers and clapping of parliamentarians.

And so there’ll be an obvious and direct question for the president and prime minister. How many planes do you need?

And, prime minister, will the UK give Ukraine planes?

Boris Johnson has said it should happen.

Rishi Sunak is now saying the UK will train Ukrainian pilots so they can fly what Downing Street calls ‘Nato standard’ fighter planes.

That is a change from what he had been saying - Sunak recently sounded sceptical, saying it would take "months, if not years" to train Ukrainian pilots.

But what will he say now?

Will the UK supply warplanes?

President Zelensky has arrived at Buckingham Palace ahead of his meeting with King Charles.

He continues his visit to the UK after speaking to both Houses of British Parliament.

Image source, PA Media

Here's a recap of the main points Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made in his address to UK Parliament:

"Freedom will win... we know Russia will lose," Zelensky told MPs, adding the UK was with his country on a march to "the most important victory of our lifetime"

He called on the West to provide fighter jets, saying: "Combat aircraft for Ukraine, wings for freedom"

The wartime leader thanked the UK for its "grit" and said the country, through its support of Ukraine, had not compromised the "ideals of these great islands"

Singling out former PM Boris Johnson, Zelensky praised him for uniting others when it seemed "absolutely impossible"

Zelensky presented Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle with the helmet of a Ukrainian pilot who he said was one of the country's most successful

He also urged the UK and the West to continue imposing sanctions "until Russia is deprived of any possibility to finance the war"

Man on a mission: Give us Nato fighter planespublished at 14:07 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2023

14:07 GMT 8 February 2023

Paul Kirby
Europe digital editor

Volodymyr Zelensky addresses Ukrainians every night of Russia's war, and over the past year he has also become proficient at speaking to parliaments across the world, mostly by video and carefully tailoring his message to his country's needs.

His early speeches were rallying cries for support, sanctions on Russia or a no-fly zone over his country. Now the messaging is more finely honed. Last week he told visiting EU leaders in Kyiv that joining the union was the next logical step for Ukraine.

When he appeared in person in the US Congress last December, he handed over a Ukrainian flag from the battle of Bakhmut, still being defended against Russia's invaders today. The message that day was that Ukrainian forces needed artillery and other weaponry to defend Bakhmut but also to protect Ukraine's cities from Russian attacks on power plants.

Image source, EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

The message to UK parliamentarians in today's personal address was equally clear. Instead of a flag, Zelensky had brought a flying ace's signed helmet with the blunt message: "Combat aircraft for Ukraine, wings for freedom."

Ukraine has only recently broken the international taboo over handing over Western tanks and long-range missiles. And remember it was the UK that first pledged its Challenger 2s. Now Zelensky feels he can break the taboo on advanced Nato fighter jets too.