Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has branded Boris Johnson “one of his greatest friends” as he continues to ask the UK for more support in his country’s war with Russia.
He revealed that he met Mr Johnson while at the annual Yalta European Strategy Forum and “thanked him for his unwavering support since 2022.”
In a message shared on X, Mr Zelensky added: “I am grateful for his attention to Ukraine and support in providing the necessary international assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Ukrainians always remember those who stand by them.”
Mr Johnson said it was “vital” that the West gave Ukraine permission to use long-range missiles so Ukraine could “defend itself properly by stopping the appalling Russian attacks with glide bombs and now Iranian missiles”.
Kyiv is urging the US and UK to allow its forces to use the weapons supplied by London and Washington to strike deep within Russian territory.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer met with US President Joe Biden on Friday to discuss this possibility but did not announce any decision.
Asked about the meeting, Mr Starmer said they had “a long and productive discussion on a number of fronts, including Ukraine, as you would expect, the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific”.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned NATO that allowing Ukraine to use American and British missiles to strike Russia could lead to a war between the alliance and Moscow.
He said “It will mean nothing less than the direct involvement of NATO countries, the United States and European countries in the war in Ukraine“.
Putin added: “This will be their direct participation, and this, of course, will significantly change the very essence, the very nature of the conflict.
“This will mean that NATO countries, US, and European countries are at war with Russia.
“If this is so, then, bearing in mind the change in the very essence of this conflict, we will make appropriate decisions based on the threats that will be created for us”.