UK premier makes 2nd visit to Kyiv to meet with Ukraine's president

By Karim El-Bar

LONDON (AA) - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson made an unannounced second visit to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Friday, meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

He was due to speak at a political event in the north of England, but pulled out at the last minute.

This is Johnson’s second visit to Ukraine since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war on Feb. 24, with the first taking place last April.

Johnson tweeted about his visit on Friday, saying: "Mr President, Volodymyr, it is good to be in Kyiv again."

A Downing Street statement said Britain “offered to launch a major training operation for Ukrainian forces, with the potential to train up to 10,000 soldiers every 120 days.”

Johnson said: “My visit today, in the depths of this war, is to send a clear and simple message to the Ukrainian people: the UK is with you, and we will be with you until you ultimately prevail.

“As Ukrainian soldiers fire UK missiles in defence of your nation’s sovereignty, they do so also in defence of the very freedoms we take for granted.

“That is why I have offered President Zelenskyy a major new military training programme that could change the equation of this war – harnessing that most powerful of forces, the Ukrainian determination to win.

“Two months on from my last visit, the Ukrainian grit, determination and resilience is stronger than ever, and I know that unbreakable resolve will long outlive the vain ambitions of (Russian) President (Vladimir​​​​​​​) Putin.”​​​​​​​