Wearing his trademark olive green military fatigues, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has touched down in the UK to negotiate a major weapons deal.
From Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Chequers retreat, it’s been promised hundreds of long-range attack drones will be given to help counter Russia’s ongoing invasion.
Britain last year provided over £2 billion of military support to Ukraine - more than any country apart from America - and has also trained 15,000 Ukrainian troops here.
But the agreement to send long-range Storm Shadow precision missiles sparked the Kremlin to threaten military retaliation.
Now, the UK government’s confirmed provision of hundreds of air defence missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles with a range of nearly 125 miles, plus fighter jet pilot training - but Zelensky wants the planes.
The Leader podcast’s joined from Kyiv by Denys Ganzha, a member of the president’s Youth Affairs Council.
We discuss the context of Zelensky’s visit, mobilisation of young Ukrainians, living under threat of Russian missile attacks, the “lost perception of reality” and chances of peace talks.
Listen above, and find us on your Spotify Daily Drive or wherever you stream your podcasts.
