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Former British prime minister Boris Johnson has visited Kyiv on a shock journey, assembly President Volodymyr Zelensky and pledging that Britain will “stick by Ukraine so long as it takes”.
Mr Johnson, who left workplace in September after a sequence of scandals, was prime minister when Russia invaded Ukraine final February and he sought to place London as Kyiv’s prime ally within the West.
Throughout his journey, Mr Johnson visited Borodyanka and Bucha, the suburbs of the Ukrainian capital that grew to become a byword for atrocities within the West when Russian forces drove in the direction of Kyiv within the first part of the invasion earlier than being repelled.
“I can let you know that the UK can be sticking by Ukraine for so long as it takes,” Mr Johnson informed the mayor of Bucha on Sunday.
“You are going to win and you are going to get all of the Russians out of your nation, however we can be there for the long run. And we can even wish to be serving to you to reconstruct,” he stated talking by means of an interpreter.
Mr Johnson has dismissed solutions that his exercise in Ukraine might be seen as undermining British Prime Minister Rusni Sunak.
Downing Road stated on Sunday that Mr. Sunak was “supportive” of his Mr. Johnson’s go to.
Whereas in workplace, Mr Johnson visited Kyiv a number of instances and known as President Zelensky regularly.
As he grew to become embroiled in scandals in Britain, he gained widespread recognition in Ukraine the place he grew to become identified affectionately as “Borys Johnsoniuk”.
In Bucha, Mr Johnson took selfies with residents and laid flowers in tribute to victims of the struggle. He visited a church to see an exhibition and signed the Ukrainian version of his guide about Winston Churchill for a priest.
In Borodyanka, he walked the streets by ruined residential blocks. Kyiv regional governor Oleksiy Kuleba, who accompanied him, stated that 162 residents had been killed through the month-long Russian occupation of the city final 12 months. Mr Kuleba stated about 60 % of residents had since returned.
In Kyiv, Mr Johnson was personally welcomed by President Zelensky and a row of prime officers together with the international minister and the top of the president’s workplace. They lined up in a yard close to the presidential administration within the coronary heart of town.
Final week Britain stated it might provide Ukraine with 14 Challenger 2 tanks and different heavy weaponry.
