Sunak says ‘nothing off the table’ as Zelensky asks for jets

It has been quite the day for Volodymyr Zelensky, who arrived in Britain this morning.

He spent most of the day with Rishi Sunak, but popped into Buckingham Palace to meet King Charles and made an address to MPs in Westminster Hall. He also went to Dorset by helicopter to see Ukrainian troops being trained on British Challenger 2 tanks.

Tonight, he will travel to Paris and meet French President Emmanuel Macron and Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Tomorrow he will head to Brussels to attend a European Union summit, where he will meet with other leaders.

His mission is to get countries to supply fighter jets to Ukraine. Rishi Sunak has not promised to deliver jets, but has said that “nothing is off the table.”

We’ll be back tomorrow, so please do join us again.

One small detail from the press conference that may have been missed is that UK Challenger 2 tanks will be deployed in Ukraine next month, as planned.

“The Ukrainian crews who arrived last week will be using Challenger 2 tanks to defend Ukraine sovereign territory next month,” Mr Sunak said at a joint press conference, sticking to the end-of-March target for their deployment previously announced.

Mr Sunak and Mr Zelensky met Ukrainian soldiers training on the tanks.

There was an emotional moment in the press conference earlier, as a Ukrainian reporter said she wanted to hug Mr Zelensky, but couldn’t because of security reasons. That didn’t bother him.

Ahead of asking a question at press conference, a Ukrainian journalist tells President Zelensky she would like to give him a hug but she’s not allowed. Look what happens 👇 pic.twitter.com/kYb8y6JhIm

— SallyLockwood (@sallylockwood) February 8, 2023

The Ukrainian fighter pilot’s helmet presented to Sir Lindsay Hoyle by President Zelensky will go on display in Speaker’s House, The Telegraph has been told.

It may even find its way to Chorley – Sir Lindsay’s Lancashire constituency – at some point down the line, Amy Gibbons reports.

The Commons Speaker said: “President Zelensky received a hero’s welcome today. Everyone was so moved by his words, his energy, passion and charisma, and especially his gift of a helmet, which was worn by ‘the ghost pilot’ – so called, because the Russians couldn’t catch him.

“I am going to put it on display in Speaker’s House so visitors can see it because it is a symbol of our support for Ukraine.
“You never know, it might also end up on display in Chorley too.”

French President Emmanuel Macron has “changed” since the statements he made on Russia irritated Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview to a French newspaper ahead of a visit to Paris.

“I think he has changed, and changed for real this time,” Mr Zelensky told Le Figaro newspaper, when asked if Macron had changed since he irritated him with his comments on the need to avoid “humiliating” Russia.

“After all, it’s him who paved the way for the delivery of tanks. And he has also supported Ukraine’s membership to the EU. I think that was a real signal,” Mr Zelensky said.

Macron said in June last year it was vital that Russia is not humiliated so that when the fighting stops in Ukraine a diplomatic solution can be found.

The Prime Minister indicated that supplying fighter jets to Ukraine would involve holding conversations with allies that help provide the aircraft.

Rishi Sunak, addressing reporters at a joint press conference at a military base in Dorset, said: “There is a supply chain around such sophisticated aircraft.

“Those are conversations that the president and I are having and making sure we understand all the supply chain needs that go alongside aircraft like that – making sure they can be used and used safely, kept safely. So we are having that conversation.

“And it is also a conversation we are having with our allies because, particularly some of the aircraft we have, are done through joint treaty with multiple other countries – I think we have seen that with previous bits of kit that others have had to give.

“For aircraft, that is something we are also involved in because, as I said, we have other allies involved in the provision of those bits of equipment.

“And as the president said, he is on his way to Europe after this to pick up this conversation with our partners and allies over there.”

Volodymyr Zelensky has come to London with one mission: to get fighter jets for his military to use in the war against Russia.

After an impassioned speech to MPs, a meeting with Rishi Sunak, an audience with King Charles, a visit to an army base and a press conference – he has not explicitly got his wish.

Rishi Sunak says “nothing is off the table” but has not committed to sending jets. The UK will however train Ukrainian pilots.

“We are intensifying out diplomacy,” says Mr Zelensky, who is visiting Europe this evening.

“With pilots, I didn’t know it takes three years to train on typhoons. We will send you pilots with two-and-a-half years of experience,” Mr Zelensky says, causing the crowd to laugh.

And with that, the conference is over and they leave to applause.

“With aircraft, we have said nothing is off the table. But we need to train people to fly these very sophisticated jets,” Mr Sunak says.

“There is also a supply chain around such sophisticated aircraft.

“We are having this conversation,” Mr Sunak adds.

“We have been nothing but out in front in this conflict.”

“I am here as well for heavy artillery. We have to be frank. I am the president of a country fighting for independence and have to do everything I can to make our allies aware.”

He says he is here for “Gratitude and weapons.”

“But yes, London is a beautiful city. It’s a shame I don’t have more time here.”

Mr Zelensky is asked what his impressions of the UK are – not being in a war zone.

“I had to do two important things,” he said.

“I had to express my gratitude to the people of the United Kingdom for helping us keep our land. Great Britain has been so active in this fight. I am so grateful. At any point we could have lost our independence but it didn’t happen.

“We have to remember who has been with us since the very first day of the war. We will have victory, but it will not happen overnight.”

“I would like to be honest with you,” says Mr Zelensky.

“In the pages of this war, there is a special section for our worries and Britain helping.

“We are grateful for whatever we were getting. Then we turned another page and we needed artillery. We needed anything to destroy the Russians who are killing and raping our people.

“Great Britain helped us a lot. We got a lot of help from the US with HIMARS. But Russia keeps on throwing people into the battlefield. We protect our people and want to prepare them.

“Now we are in the stagnation phase. You asked what happens if we don’t get jets or munitions. Things are running out. These people will be living on our territory and that poses a risk to the rest of the world. They are terrorists.

“Without the weapons that we are discussing now, there will be stagnation, which will not lead to anything good.”

A BBC Ukraine correspondent starts by asking Mr Zelensky for a hug – which he is happy to give.

She asks a pointed question about Russians laundering money through London.

“I used to be the finance minister and we put in place the most forward leaning and strict sanctions package against Russian individuals. It was Britain that led the way in pushing for very strict sanctions,” Mr Sunak says.

First question from ITV to Mr Sunak: “Will you give fighter jets to Ukraine?”

“Nothing is off the table,” Mr Sunak says. He said that Britain was the first country to offer battle tanks, and led the way for other countries to do so.

“Of course, we have been discussing fighter combat aircrafts today,” he says. “Nothing is off the table,” he says again.

“We have a very strong defence package from great Britain. We have already received vehicles and missiles. We will find a common path to victory,” says Mr Zelensky.

“I am also grateful to His Majesty for the time I spent with him. I am also grateful to everyone in London standing with Ukrainian flags. We saw you.

“This marks a new level of our relations.”

“We will expand our training program to your marines and fighter jet pilots,” says Sunak.

“We must arm Ukraine in the short term but we must bolster Ukraine in the long term,” he adds.

Russia’s embassy to Britain has warned London against sending fighter jets to Ukraine, saying such a move would have “military and political consequences for the European continent and the entire world”, the TASS news agency reported.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has today called on Britain to give Ukraine fighter jets as the next stage in the West’s supplies of weapons to help Kyiv fight off the Russian invasion.

Britain said it would start training Ukrainian pilots in how to fly advanced NATO-standard fighter jets, but has not yet pledged to send planes.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak are expected to hold a press conference shortly.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak have arrived by helicopter at Lulworth Camp, Dorset, to meet Ukrainian troops being trained by the British Army.

Mr Zelensky thanked MrSunak for his support before presenting medals to some of his troops.

Mr Sunak said: “It is a privilege for us to have all of you here and your courage is inspiring to us and the courage of your families is inspiring to us.

“We will be there until the end and you are victorious.”

In his address to MPs, Mr Zelensky paid tribute to King Charles, noting his RAF background, saying: “The King was an air force pilot, and In Ukraine every air force pilot is a King.”

This message, and the call for fighter jets to be sent to Ukraine has been echoed by the country’s Ministry of Defence.

French President Emmanuel Macron will host a meeting in Paris later this evening with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the French Presidency has announced.

Futher details were not immediately available.

On Thursday, Zelensky is expected to travel to Brussels, where leaders of EU countries are gathering for a summit.

He said he also allowed himself the “liberty” of squeezing the president’s arm, adding: “What can you say in 30 seconds? I just want the guy to know how very much we’re on his side.”

A great honour to meet President Zelensky in Westminster Hall today. All the courage and determination of a man intending to settle for nothing less than the complete freedom of his country. pic.twitter.com/RKmOUxH4L1

— Sir Roger Gale MP (@SirRogerGale) February 8, 2023

Former prime minister Liz Truss, who was a vocal backer of Ukraine during her brief tenure, said it was a “privilege” to listen to Mr Zelensky.

“His courage in the face of Putin’s barbaric invasion of Ukraine is an inspiration as we remain steadfast in our support for the Ukrainian people. As he said: ‘Freedom will win’.”

Ms truss did not visit Ukraine during her short time as Prime Minister, and was not singled out for praise by Mr Zelensky, unlike Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak, who have both been to Kyiv.

Disinformation spread by Russia during their invasion of Ukraine is “gaining traction” but is “low quality activity”, western officials have said.

According to new research, content justifying the war produced by disinformation outlets on Facebook has been viewed “more than 1.2 billion times globally”.

One official said messages sent by Russia to the Ukrainian people in an attempt to “break the will to resist” had “absolutely failed on every conceivable measure” as well as only managing a “moderate performance” in its primary goal of “regime security” in their own country.

Addressing the use of disinformation tactics by Russia, the official said: “Some of it is gaining traction, and it’s designed to distract audiences from the truth from the atrocities that are taking place in Ukraine and also to fuel conspiracy theories.

“Researchers found 50 pages affiliated with state and non-state actors across the Middle East in North Africa spreading pro-Kremlin propaganda, generating more than 705 million views.

“Now whilst this is a lot of activity, again, I have to state this is low-quality activity.”

Rishi Sunak has ordered the ministry of defence to “investigate” what fighter jets Britain may be able to send to Ukraine, write Joe Barnes and Jamie Johnson.

“The Prime Minister has tasked the Defence Secretary with investigating what jets we might be able to give but, to be clear, this is a long-term solution rather than a short-term capability, which is what Ukraine needs most now,” said a Number 10 spokesman.

It comes after Volodymyr Zelensky urged Britain to provide Ukraine with fighter jets in an impassioned speech to MPs in Westminster.

US has questions to answer over Nord Stream explosions, says Russia

Russia’s foreign ministry on Wednesday said the United States had questions to answer over its role in explosions on the undersea Nord Stream gas pipelines last year.

Commenting on a report published earlier on Wednesday that said the United States was involved in the explosions, Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called on the White House to comment on the “facts” that had been presented.

Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the King for his country’s support for Ukrainian refugees during their meeting.

“I am grateful to His Majesty for the warm welcome and for supporting Ukrainian citizens who have taken refuge from the war in the United Kingdom,” Mr Zelensky said on Telegram.

The King told Volodymyr Zelensky he was delighted to welcome him to Buckingham Palace.

The Ukrainian President replied that it was “a great honour to be here,” adding: “Thank you for finding the time for me.”

The King said: “We’ve all been worried about you and thinking about your country for so long, I can’t tell you.”

They sat in the 1844 Room for 30 minutes of conversation about the continuing conflict in Ukraine, and the part Britain has played in supporting the nation.

Tea was served.

Further representatives from Ukraine were then welcomed into the room for an introduction and informal conversation with the King and a chance to have pictures taken individually.

The Ukrainian party then departed through the Grand Entrance, Buckingham Palace said.

Western partners could deliver the first battalion of Leopard 2 battle tanks to Ukraine in the first three or four months of this year, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said during a trip to the Polish capital on Wednesday.

“We could deliver at least one battalion in the first four months of this year – three months maybe – and then we need to proceed as fast as possible of course,” Mr Pistorius said, adding that a battalion would consist of about 31 tanks.

Downing Street has stressed that no decision has been taken on whether to send British jets to Ukraine, after Volodymyr Zelensky’s address to Parliament.

“I think you can see from the steps that we are taking that we are willing to put Ukraine in the position where, once we have reached the goals of training pilots, they are able to fly these type of jets,” the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said.

“What we have not made a decision on is whether we send UK fighter jets. Obviously there is an ongoing discussion among other countries about their own fighter jets, some of which are more akin to what Ukrainian pilots are used to.”

But the supply of British planes is being “actively” considered by Ben Wallace, the spokesman said.

“We’ve confirmed there will be a training programme for Ukrainian pilots and the Defence Secretary is actively looking at whether we send jets.”

Downing Street said the UK was hoping to receive the first Ukrainian pilots in the spring, but would not give a specific date.

“Obviously we want it to start as soon as possible,” the Prime Minister’s spokesman said, but Downing Street stressed that it would be a long-term process.

“I think we are keen to do whatever is possible to get these pilots trained up as fast as possible. But these are complex pieces of military equipment. And as you know the current training period for UK pilots is around five years.

“We think this is right to provide both short-term equipment like Challenger tanks, additional guns, longer-range capabilities that can help win the war now, but also look to the medium-to-long term to ensure Ukraine has every possible capability it requires.

“The Prime Minister has tasked the Defence Secretary with investigating what jets we might be able to give but, to be clear, this is a long-term solution rather than a short-term capability, which is what Ukraine needs most now.”

Former prime minister Boris Johnson urged Rishi Sunak to supply Ukraine with jets and more tanks.
He said: “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.”

Olaf Scholz, the German Chancellor, is flying to Paris to meet Volodymyr Zelensky and Emmanuel Macron, according to German government sources.

The French President will host the meeting between the three leaders in the French capital on Wednesday, the French presidency said.

Mr Zelensky was dressed in his trademark khaki green military fatigues as he was welcomed to the royal residence on Wednesday afternoon.

Charles greeted the president with wide smile and a warm handshake in the Palace’s 1844 Room.

Supplying Typhoon jets to Ukraine would require the support of Germany, Italy and Spain, the other countries involved in its development, but he insisted that should not be an issue, Boris Johnson has said.

“Today’s investment in helping Ukraine will avert instability and chaos for years to come,” Mr Johnson said. “By helping Ukraine to push back (Vladimir) Putin, we can make our world safer – and above all, save an innocent country from destruction.

“It is true that the Typhoon is a four-nation plane and that we require the approval of allies for export. But there is no reason to think that Germany or others should oppose our decision – these are UK planes.

“In the year since Putin’s barbaric invasion, we have learnt that he fears nothing except the heroism of the Ukrainians and western willingness to give them the tools they need.

“Every time we have stepped up with more military support the Ukrainians have responded and turned the tide of war. Now is the time to give them exactly what they need to finish the job.”

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky was expected in Paris on Wednesday evening, the French presidency said, after his visit to the United Kingdom.

EU officials are then hoping he will head to Brussels on Thursday to meet European leaders in a largely symbolic but nevertheless keenly anticipated visit after months of European support for Ukraine.

Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived at Buckingham Palace for an audience with the King.

The Ukrainian President used his speech to praise the King’s support for his country, referring to the monarch’s own air force training to tell parliamentarians that in his country every pilot is a “king”.

In his address, Mr Zelensky looked forward to his meeting with Charles and said he expected it to be an “honour”.

“It will be a truly special moment for me, for our country, and in particular because I will convey to him from all the Ukrainians the words of gratitude for the support His Majesty showed to them when he was still the Prince of Wales,” Mr Zelensky said.

MPs, peers, parliamentary staff and journalists were crammed into Westminster Hall for the big speech just now, many huddled in winter coats with the temperature in the single digits, writes Ben Riley-Smith, Political Editor.

Throughout President Zelensky’s address there were shouts of “Slava Ukraini!”, not least when the Ukrainian leader vowed that Russia would, in the end, be defeated.

There was praise by name given to Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak in the address, but not Liz Truss, who was prime minister for 49 days between the other two Tories.

After the speech Mr Zelensky, who had addressed the room before a vast stained glass window glowing up with winter sunlight, stepped forward to shake hands from some of the crowd.

Ms Truss and Mr Johnson were both in the front row, as recent occupants of Number 10, and got the chance to chat briefly with President Zelensky before he departed.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said the UK is “backing Ukraine until they are victorious” after watching Volodymyr Zelensky’s address.

“What a powerful speech from President (Zelensky),” he tweeted. “We are backing Ukraine until they are victorious. Freedom will win.”

What a powerful speech from President @ZelenskyyUa.

We are backing Ukraine until they are victorious.

Freedom will win 🇺🇦🇬🇧

— James Cleverly🇬🇧 (@JamesCleverly) February 8, 2023

Volodymyr Zelensky warned that “evil” was still present in his country and it needed to fight on.

He said: “Evil is still around around today and the battle continues. Yes, we know how it’s going to end and how we are going to feel on the day victory comes. Every day we continue to pay with lives.

“Pain and tears for bringing victory closer, with the lives of our people, our heroes, whom we lose in battles, with the lives of our heroes who take life and death risks every day to save as many of our soldiers and civilians as possible.”

A reminder that today’s episode of Ukraine: The Latest will begin live on Twitter shortly.

Volodymyr Zelensky finished his address to Parliament with a plea for modern warplanes to help fight against Russia’s invasion.

Mr Zelensky said he wanted a coalition of nations to supply planes.

He told MPs: “I appeal to you and the world with simple and yet most important words: combat aircraft for Ukraine, wings for freedom.

“Victory for Ukraine will deter other aggressors, says Zelensky

A Ukrainian victory against Russia will deter aggressors around the world, Volodymyr Zelensky has said.

He told parliamentarians gathered in Westminster Hall: “We know freedom will win. We know Russia will lose.

“And we really know that the victory will change the world and this will be a change that the world has long needed.

“The United Kingdom is marching with us towards the most, I think, the most important victory of our lifetime. It will be a victory over the very idea of the war.

“After we win together, any aggressor, it doesn’t matter big or small, will know what awaits him if he attacks international order…

“Any aggressor is going to lose.”

The Ukrainian President has again urges Ukraine’s western allies to send it warplanes.

“Today, every air force pilot is a King,” he said, referring to his upcoming meeting with King Charles.

He presented Lindsay Hoyle with a Ukrainian pilot’s helmet.

On the helmet was written: “We have freedom, gives us wings to protect it.”

Volodymyr Zelensky hailed the “strong British character” that had been shown in response to the Russian invasion.

He told Parliament: “You didn’t compromise Ukraine and hence you didn’t compromise your ideals and thus you didn’t compromise the spirit of these great islands.

“Thank you very much.”

Long-range missiles will “allow us to make the evil completely retreat from our country,” says Zelensky, as he thanks the Prime Minister.

He adds that he is grateful for Britain sending tanks. “Thank you Rishi, for this powerful defensive step, for tanks.”

Volodymyr Zelensky thanked former prime minister Boris Johnson for the support he showed as Russia launched its invasion.

The Ukrainian president said: “London has stood with Kyiv since day one, from the first seconds and minutes of the full-scale war, Great Britain you extended your helping hand when the world had not yet come to understand how to react.

“Boris: you got others united when it seemed absolutely impossible. Thank you.”

Zelensky says that what awaits is “the most important victory in our lifetime, a victory of the very idea of war.”

He added that Putin will know what waits him and that “any aggressor is going to lose”.

Volodymyr Zelensky is recounting a time he visited the War Rooms beneath Whitehall, where Winston Churchill led Britain through the Second World War.

“I have come here and stand before you on behalf of the brave, on behalf of our war heroes who are now in the trenches under enemy artillery fire, on behalf of our air gunners, and every defender of the sky who protects Ukraine against enemy aircraft and missiles, on behalf of our tank men who fight to restore our Ukrainian borders, on behalf of our conscripts who are being trained now including here in Britain.”

The Ukrainian President has begun speaking after another round of cheers and applause.

The Speaker of the House of Commons is introducing Volodymyr Zelensky, thanking him for speaking to Parliament during the first weeks of the war.

“The war, as you know better than any of us, has lasted for almost a year,” he said.

“As you told us last year, this is a war Ukraine did not start,” he added.

Ukraine’s President has arrived in Westminster hall to address Parliament as part of his first trip to the UK since the war began.

Volodymyr Zelensky smiled as he walked past the crowds, before taking the stage to loud cheers.

Sunlight is streaming through the stained glass windows of Westminster hall, where Volodymyr Zelensky is about to address MPs.

Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Keir Starmer can be seen in the front row as they await the Ukrainian President’s arrival.

Speaking in Parliament, Rishi Sunak said he is hopeful of seeing the first International Criminal Court (ICC) indictments linked to Russia’s renewed invasion of Ukraine “very shortly”.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer asked Mr Sunak if he agreed that “Putin and all his cronies must stand at The Hague and face justice” once the war is over.

Mr Sunak replied: “He’s absolutely right that we must hold those to account for the horrific crimes that they have committed.

“I’m proud the United Kingdom has played, again, a leadership role in this regard being one of the first countries to provide financial and technical support, putting investigators on the ground, we’re shortly to be hosting a conference together with the Dutch.

“And also one of the things I discussed with President Zelensky this morning is our support for the work of the ICC where, thanks to the efforts of UK members, I’m hopeful we will see the first indictments very shortly.”

The team investigating the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 by a missile has convincing evidence that Russian President Vladimir Putin personally signed off on a decision to allow the Russian missile system into Ukraine, Dutch prosecutors have said.

The BUK-TELAR missile system was used to shot down MH17 on its way from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur over eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014, investigators said.

However, they said the evidence was not enough to lead to prosecution.

Rishi Sunak, the British Prime Minister, told parliament the UK would continue “to support Ukraine to ensure decisive military victory on the battlefield, this year”.

“(Russian President) Vladimir Putin’s aggression cannot be seen in any way to have been successful and that’s why we have accelerated and increased our support militarily for Ukraine,” Sunak said ahead of an address to parliament by visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, has said that the country and Commons can be “proud that we came together to stand by Ukraine when the moment mattered”.

Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, said: “This House is honoured to be addressed today by President Zelensky. From the outset of the war he has symbolised the heroism, the resolve, and the bravery of his people.

“The Prime Minister and I joined this House together in 2015. We’ve lived through important moments in our domestic and international politics. But none of those experiences compares to the pain and suffering of the people of Ukraine.

“Does the Prime Minister agree with me that right across this House it is vital that we all continue to stand together in full support of Ukraine?”

Mr Sunak responded: “Can I thank the honourable gentleman for his comments on Ukraine.

“It’s something that not only the whole country can be proud of, but the entire House can be proud that we came together to stand by Ukraine when the moment mattered, and that we will continue to stand with them, united, as one Parliament and one United Kingdom.”