Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in Brussels where he is expected to address the European Parliament later today.
Zelensky, along with French President Emmanuel Macron, arrived from Paris as part of an unannounced diplomatic tour of European capitals to convince the West to send more arms and military support to counter an expected Russian spring offensive.
Zelensky made a surprise visit to the UK on Wednesday on his second trip abroad since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine nearly a year ago.
Speaking to British lawmakers, Zelensky reiterated his persistent call for more heavy weapons, including fighter jets.
In a poignant but carefully crafted move, Zelensky presented the Speaker of the House of Commons, Lindsay Hoyle, with the helmet of a Ukrainian fighter pilot, signed with the message: “We have freedom. Give us wings to protect it.”
Earlier on Wednesday, the UK announced it will begin training Ukrainian pilots on NATO-standard fighters in what DailyExpertNews says will be the first official training program for Ukrainian pilots on Western fighters.
There was no question of supplying Western warplanes to Ukraine that Zelensky had requested.
But British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak did say that “when it comes to providing military aid to Ukraine, nothing is off the table” when asked if the UK will supply fighter jets to Ukraine.
