LONDON – British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday made a surprise second visit to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, launching a training program for the country’s military in a fresh embrace of politics. government of Ukraine just a day after key European leaders launched a similar trip.
During the visit, Mr Johnson promised a new aid package with the ability to train up to 10,000 troops every 120 days and provide the “strategic endurance” needed to dislodge Russian forces.
Britain has provided extensive military support to Ukraine. At a news conference, Mr Johnson said Britain would help the Ukrainian military “do what I believe the Ukrainians aspire to do and that is expel the aggressor from Ukraine.”
Mr. Johnson said that each Ukrainian soldier will spend three weeks on a course aimed at training frontline combat skills, medical engineering, cyber security and anti-explosive tactics.
The two leaders also discussed how Britain could help end a Russian naval blockade that is preventing grain exports, Downing Street said, without providing any further details. There has been speculation that Britain could provide the vessel, although so far the government has said it has made no decision.
Having recently survived a vote of no confidence among his own lawmakers, Mr Johnson may be hoping that a visit to Kyiv can boost his own popularity after more bad news in this week.
Mr Johnson, once one of the world’s staunchest supporters of the Ukrainian government, has cultivated a strong relationship with the country’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, and visited in April.
While not the first foreign leader to set off for Ukraine after the Russian invasion, he was one of the earliest and was warmly received in Kyiv on a trip that has been deemed a success. diplomatically.
Mr Johnson’s government has provided Ukraine with weapons and diplomatic support, and has been singled out by the Russian government as hostile to Moscow. In Ukraine, the prime minister’s unwavering support for the war effort made him a folk hero in contrast to his position at home, where he fought for political survival. (A street in Odesa and a particular pastry shop in Kyiv have been named after him.)
Mr Johnson’s visit comes after visits by President Emmanuel Macron of France, Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany and Prime Minister Mario Draghi of Italy. They offered to back Ukraine as a candidate for EU membership, an issue to be considered by the bloc’s 27 leaders next week. Referring to the European Commission’s decision on Friday to recommend approving that step, Mr Zelensky described it as a “historic moment” for his country.
Britain has left the European Union, so its assistance to Mr Zelensky is more focused on providing weapons and other support.
Although Mr Johnson’s visit was a surprise, rumors began to circulate when he unexpectedly canceled a potentially harsher talk with some of his own lawmakers – a respectable minority. several of them tried unsuccessfully to oust him last week – without giving a reason.
