Credit: Office of the President of Ukraine/Cover Images

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson flew into Kyiv on Wednesday (24August2022) to meet Ukraine’s President Zelensky on the country’s Independence Day. Britain’s departing leader has built a strong relationship with President Zelensky due to the UK being at the forefront of efforts to provide military support for Ukraine following Russia’s invasion of the country in February. In a statement on social media, Zelensky said: “I am happy to meet Boris Johnson, a great friend of Ukraine, on Independence Day. Boris, thank you for the uncompromising support for our country from the first days of the full-scale Russian aggression, for steadfastly defending the interests of Ukraine in the international arena! Ukraine is lucky to have such a friend!” In his own statement, Johnson added: “What happens in Ukraine matters to us all. That is why I am in Kyiv today. That is why the UK will continue to stand with our Ukrainian friends. I believe Ukraine can and will win this war.” The trip is likely to be Johnson’s last to Kyiv in his official capacity as Prime Minister, as he will step down after the election of a new Conservative Party leader on 5 September. He announced his resignation as party leader on 7 July following a string of resignations from his cabinet following revelations about what he knew about allegations of misconduct by his government’s Deputy Chief Whip, Chris Pincher.