Summary

  • Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky is speaking alongside PM Rishi Sunak in Dorset, at the end of a surprise visit to the UK

  • Zelensky is asking for the UK to provide fighter jets to Ukraine - something Western allies have so far declined to do

  • Sunak tells the news conference that "nothing is off the table" and jets remain "part of the conversation"

  • "We have freedom, give us wings to protect it," Zelensky earlier urged a joint session of the UK Parliament at Westminster Hall

  • Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has been tasked with investigating what planes the UK may be able to provide, according to Downing Street

  • However the spokesperson stressed that this would be a "long-term" option

  • Zelensky also met King Charles earlier, who told him: "We've all been worried about you and thinking about your country"

  • It is Zelensky's first visit to the UK since Russia invaded his country, and his second international trip since the war began

Live Reporting

Edited by Jamie Whitehead

  1. More on Zelensky's meeting with the King

    We're hearing more details about the meeting due to take place between President Zelensky and the King later today.

    It'll be at Buckingham Palace this afternoon, the royal residence says.

    Zelensky will be greeted in the famous Palace quadrangle before being taken inside to meet the monarch.

    He was last at the Palace in October 2020, alongside his wife Olena, where he met the Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Catherine.

    Prince and Princess of Wales meeting Zelensky and his wife, Olena, in 2020Getty Images
  2. Analysis

    Visit is significant moment for UK and Ukraine

    Nick Eardley
    Chief political correspondent

    Zelenksy addresses the House of Commons via a video feedUK Parliament

    Zelenksy addresses the House of Commons via a video feed, March 2022

    Today’s visit will be a highly symbolic show of support for Ukraine.

    President Zelenksy will visit Downing Street, will meet the King and will become one of only a few leaders to address Parliament in person (remember he also spoke to MPs last year virtually).

    Rishi Sunak will promise the UK’s commitments to Ukraine are long-term.

    He’ll pledge more training for Ukrainian forces; including training fighter jet pilots. There has been a big debate over whether to send jets to Ukraine – but at the moment the UK isn’t doing that.

  3. Zelensky to meet King Charles
    Breaking

    Buckingham Palace has just announced that President Zelensky will meet King Charles III during his trip to the UK.

    We'll bring you more on that when we have it.

  4. Zelensky lands in UK
    Breaking

    Military plane landing on runwayPool

    A Royal Air Force plane carrying President Zelensky has just touched down at Stansted Airport.

  5. UK's latest package cements long-term support, Sunak says

    President Zelensky's visit to the UK comes as PM Rishi Sunak commits another round of military aid to Ukraine. A Downing Street press release says Sunak will offer to:

    • Bolster the UK's training of Ukrainian troops, including expanding it to fighter jet pilots to ensure they can fly sophisticated Nato-standard aircrafts
    • Begin an immediate training programme for Ukrainian marines
    • Provide Ukraine with longer-range weapons, in a bid to disrupt Russia's ability to target civilian and critical national infrastructure
    • Implement further sanctions against Russia, including on those who helped Vladimir Putin build his personal wealth and companies profiting from the Kremlin's war machine

    "I am proud that today we will expand that training from soldiers to marines and fighter jet pilots, ensuring Ukraine has a military able to defend its interests well into the future," Sunak says of the UK's latest package.

    It also underlines our commitment to not just provide military equipment for the short term, but a long-term pledge to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine for years to come."

  6. Zelensky comes to UK before addressing EU leaders

    Jessica Parker
    Brussels Correspondent

    President Zelensky's visit to the UK comes ahead of a much-rumoured trip to Brussels. He's expected to address the European Parliament tomorrow before attending a summit of EU leaders.

    The news leaked out earlier this week, leading to concerns the trip could be pulled because of security concerns.

    Some EU officials had spoken of how President Zelensky's next foreign trip would naturally be Brussels - so it's notable that he has first headed to London

  7. Zelensky's third foreign visit since Russian invasion

    Zelensky and Biden in WashingtonGetty Images

    It is fair to say Zelensky’s visit to the UK has come as a bit of a surprise – similar to his sudden trip to Washington just before Christmas.

    In what was his first foreign trip since Russia invaded Ukraine, he met President Joe Biden wearing his trademark combat-green sweatshirt and boots.

    He also addressed Congress and made a defiant address to US lawmakers as he pleaded for more US military aid.

    President Biden vowed to stick by Ukraine for “as long as it takes”.

    On his way back from Washington, Zelensky stopped in Poland to meet his counterpart, Andrzej Duda.

  8. UK was the first to pledge tanks to Ukraine's war effort

    Sunak has been a key supporter of the Ukrainian war effort – as were his predecessors Liz Truss and Boris Johnson.

    Last month the UK announced it would be sending 14 Challenger 2 battle tanks to Ukraine in order to help bolster its fight against Russia.

    This commitment was eventually followed up by similar pledges from other nations including the United States, Germany and other Nato allies.

    The UK has given £2.3 billion in military assistance to Ukraine so far and has pledged to match that assistance in 2023.

    That funding has helped to supply equipment including anti-tank weaponry and air defence systems, some of which are designed to bring down low-flying aircraft at short range.

    Challenger 2 tank facts image.

  9. The last time Sunak and Zelensky met

    Sunak and Zelensky met in Kyiv last NovemberPA Media

    Today will mark President Zelensky's third official visit since Ukraine was invaded – the first being his trip to the US just before Christmas and the second to Poland (which he did on the way home from Washington).

    It’s also his first visit to the UK since 2020.

    The last time Rishi Sunak met the wartime leader was when he flew to Kyiv in November, a trip on which the PM announced a £50m aid package to Ukraine – and said Britain knows “what it means to fight for freedom”.

    Today Sunak is announcing further support, including sending more military aid and training Ukrainian fighter jet pilots.

    Former PM Boris Johnson, who forged a close friendship with Zelensky during his time at Downing Street, previously said he’d be honoured to host him in the UK.

  10. Zelensky visits UK for first time since war began – welcome

    Hello and thanks for joining us on what’s shaping up to be a busy day at Westminster.

    In addition to the weekly Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) session at midday, there’ll be a surprise visit by Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky – his first to the UK since the war with Russia began last February.

    Zelensky's due to address Parliament as UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announces more British aid to Ukraine, including a move to train fighter jet pilots and implement further sanctions against Russia.

    We’ll bring you all the latest on this page, including the stand-off between Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer in the Commons a little later.

    Stay with us for the latest developments and analysis.