Key events
In the bilateral meeting with Starmer, Zelenskiy thanked the UK for its “unity” with and backing for Kyiv and said “we feel this support”.
The Ukrainian president said he wanted to discuss “strong decisions” in the war in Ukraine. “Thank you for the invitation for the privilege for me to be here,” he said.
He said:
Thanks for this unity. We feel this support and your strong decisions … helped us to defend freedom and democracy in Ukraine and helped very much Ukrainian people.”
Zelenskiy added: “I also want to discuss with you today also strong decisions we can have in this war [to] help us.”
Keir Starmer said Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s visit to Downing Street was a “very special moment”.
In a bilateral meeting with the Ukrainian president, the prime minister said the UK is “united in our parliament” in supporting Kyiv for as long as possible.
Starmer said:
It’s a very special moment for us to reiterate our support for you and the Ukrainian people in the fight against Russian aggression and to have this opportunity to confirm again our resolve to stand with you, so thank you so much for accepting the invitation.”
Here’s a photograph on the newswires of Larry the cat preparing for Zelenskiy’s visit this morning.
Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrives in Downing Street to address the Cabinet
Volodymyr Zelenskiy has arrived in Downing Street, where he is expected to become the first foreign leader to address Cabinet in person since 1997.
The Ukrainian president was greeted by prime minister Keir Starmer with a warm hug and handshake before entering Number 10.
The UK will provide military aid funding to Ukraine “for every year for the rest of the decade,” John Healey said.
The defence secretary told Times Radio: “If we take the starting point that the defence of the UK starts in Ukraine and if Putin wins in Ukraine he will not stop there, then we must stand with Ukraine, we’re determined to do that.
“And it isn’t just that. We’ve stepped up extra support in these first two weeks in government.
“We’ve also confirmed the commitment of extra military aid funding this year and for every year for the rest of the decade. As long as it takes.”
He added: “When Keir Starmer said Britain will continue our steadfast support for Ukraine he meant it.”
Good morning and welcome to our UK politics blog.
Volodymyr Zelenskiy is addressing the cabinet this morning to bring fresh impetus to efforts to stop Russia evading sanctions on its oil exports.
The Ukrainian president is in the UK after attending yesterday’s summit of the European Political Community, hosted by Keir Starmer at Blenheim Palace.
At the meeting, European leaders agreed to launch a “call to action” to disrupt the growing fleet of “phantom” tankers carrying sanctioned Russian oil around the world.
You can read our story here
In other news, MPs will continue their debate around measures in the King’s speech earlier this week, stay with us for all the day’s political developments.
