Zelenskyy visiting UK for first time since Russia invaded in 2022

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the United Kingdom on Wednesday, in his first trip to the area since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022.

Zelenskyy met with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at Downing Street, where they posed for a brief photo op outside of the prime minister’s home. Zelenskyy is set to address Parliament during his UK trip and will meet with King Charles III later in the afternoon.

The U.K. remains a top contributor to Ukraine amid the ongoing invasion, as it has sent the country more than $2.5 billion in military weapons and equipment.

The contributions include a pledge to send Ukraine Challenger 2 tanks, which British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced Saturday, along with additional artillery systems following a call with Zelenskyy.

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Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, left, welcomes Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Downing Street in London, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. It is the first visit to the UK by the Ukraine President since the war began nearly a year ago.  (Victoria Jones/PA via AP)

The two leaders “agreed on the need to seize on this moment with an acceleration of global military and diplomatic support to Ukraine,” according to a readout of the call from the British government.

France, Poland, Germany, and the United States have similarly agreed to send tanks.

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Following a consolidation by Russian forces, Ukraine’s war has ramped up in recent months and, Russia and Ukraine look to bolster their own forces. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses a media conference after the EU-Ukraine summit in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Feb. 3, 2023.  (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

The current battle remains in the Donbas, where intense fighting continues along a 50-mile region from Bakhmut and Soledar in Donetsk to Kremmina in Luhansk. 

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Zelenskyy’s visit to the U.K. comes as Britain announced it will train Ukrainian pilots on “NATO-standard fighter jets.” The U.K. has said it will not send U.K. planes.

Paintings are seen on a wall of a heavily damaged during Russian attacks House of Culture, on Feb 7, 2023 in Irpin, Ukraine.  (Roman Pilipey/Getty Images)

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The visit will be Zelenskyy’s second international trip since Russia launched the invasion, as he visited the U.S. in December last year.

Fox News’ Caitlin McFall and The Associated Press contributed to this report.