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Agence France-Presse

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday received a standing ovation from senior ministers as he became the first foreign leader to address the British cabinet in person since 1997.
Zelensky gave members of the new Labour government a rundown of the latest situation in Ukraine after a red-carpet welcome at Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s 10 Downing Street residence and office.
He and Starmer had a one-on-one meeting beforehand, in which he thanked Britain for its sustained backing for Kyiv since Russian forces invaded in February 2022.
“Thank for the invitation, for the privilege, for me to be here,” he told Starmer, who led Labour to victory in elections two weeks ago and has reaffirmed Britain’s support for Ukraine “for as along as it takes”.
Zelensky on Thursday urged European leaders to remain united against Russian aggression, as he seeks more military help, including much-needed air firepower to push back Russian troops.

At Cabinet, dressed in his trademark army fatigues, and flanked on either side by Britain’s Union flag and the blue-and-yellow flag of Ukraine, he renewed his call for help in boosting his country’s “long-range capability”.
“If the restrictions on using Western weapons against Russian military are lifted, we can strike further than just near the border,” he told ministers.
That would allow Ukraine to “not only protect ourselves from any Russian offensives but also secure our frontline positions and cities from Russian bombs”, he added.
Nato member states, including Britain, have been hesitant about Ukraine using Western-supplied weapons such as missiles on targets inside Russia, for fear of escalating the conflict.
Britain has signalled that Ukrainian forces could use UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles for defensive strikes.
“We’re providing weapons to Ukraine for their defence of their sovereign country. And that does not preclude them hitting targets in Russia,” Defence Secretary John Healey told BBC radio.
“But that must be done by the Ukrainians, it must be done within the parameters and the bounds of international humanitarian law,” added Healey, who visited Ukraine within days of his appointment.




The last foreign leader to address the British Cabinet in person was US president Bill Clinton in 1997 after Labour’s Tony Blair swept to power, also in a landslide win over the Conservatives.
Zelensky’s “historic address”, as Starmer called it, came as 44 countries and the European Union agreed to target Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” of tankers seeking to evade sanctions on Russian oil.
The 600 or so vessels – most of them old and unsafe – transport 1.7 million barrels of oil per day, providing funding for the Russian war effort, but also allegedly carrying weapons.


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Britain

Zelensky, in address to UK cabinet, seeks help to boost Ukraine’s ‘long-range’ capability

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky (middle) receives a standing ovation from Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer (middle left) and UK cabinet ministers. Photo: AFP

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (left) welcomes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to 10 Downing Street in London. Photo: EPA-EFE

‘Britain is back,’ new UK PM Keir Starmer tells Europe

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer attends a press conference at the European Political Community (EPC) summit at Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, on Thursday. Photo: EPA-EFE

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (right) speaks during a plenary session with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the European Political Community meeting at Blenheim Palace on Thursday. Photo: Reuters

France’s President Emmanuel Macron (right) talks to Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer during the European Political Community meeting near Oxford on Thursday. Photo: Reuters

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Prime Minister Keir Starmer ordered the review less than a week after he returned from a Nato summit in Washington, where he reaffirmed the Britain’s support for Nato. Photo: AP

Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer (left) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (right) look on as US President Joe Biden speaks. Photo: dpa

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (left) and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the Nato summit in Washington, where Starmer conveyed Britain’s “serious commitment” to spending 2.5 per cent of its GDP on defence. Photo: TNS

Joe Biden hails ‘best of allies’ in first talks with UK’s Keir Starmer

US President Joe Biden (left) greets UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, as he arrives for a welcome ceremony at the Nato summit in Washington on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters

US President Joe Biden (right) shakes hands with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in the Oval Office of the White House on Wednesday. Photo: AP

An air-launched long-range Storm Shadow cruise missile is displayed at the 54th International Paris Air Show at Le Bourget Airport near Paris, France, in June 2023. Photo: Reuters

Keir Starmer goes to Washington for Nato summit on first foreign trip as UK PM

Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer talks to journalists as he travels onboard a plane to Washington to attend a Nato summit on Tuesday. Photo: Pool via Reuters

Prime Minister Keir Starmer in parliament on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

UK Defence Secretary John Healey and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Odesa, Ukraine, on Sunday. Photo: Ministry of Defence via AP

 Lawmakers in the House of Commons on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

Rishi Sunak, now opposition leader. Photo: EPA-EFE

From left, Reform UK members Lee Anderson, Nigel Farage, Richard Tice, and Rupert Lowe. Photo: PA via AP

News

World

Europe

New UK PM Keir Starmer has pledged Britain’s support for Ukraine in the war for ‘as long as it takes’


Zelensky, the first foreign leader to address the UK cabinet in person since 1997, renewed his call for help in boosting his country’s ‘long-range capability’.
