PRESS RELEASE : Ukraine is grateful to Great Britain for effective measures to deter Russia – President

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 1 February 2022.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the key issues in the talks with Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson were the existing historical challenges facing the two countries, Europe and the whole world. The Head of State made this statement during a meeting with media representatives following the talks in Kyiv with Boris Johnson, for whom this is the first visit to Ukraine as the head of the British government.

“Prime Minister Johnson assured me of full support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, readiness for further cooperation to deoccupy our peninsula and return all our Ukrainian territories, including within the Crimea Platform,” he said.

According to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during the meeting the parties discussed a set of steps to deter the Russian Federation.

“My opinion is well known. Any measures are effective before, not after. Prevention is better than resuscitation. This is evidenced by the recent decision of the British government to draft a law that will strengthen and expand sanctions for aggression against Ukraine,” the President stressed.

The President also thanked the United Kingdom for supporting Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations.

In the context of strengthening the defense capabilities of our state, Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine is building a strong, capable army. In particular, a decision has already been made to increase the number of the Armed Forces by another 100,000 servicemen.

“We appreciate the assistance and practical help from the UK on this path. This is 1.7 billion pounds for the Ukrainian Navy, the construction of modern Ukrainian naval bases, a package of security assistance and weapons, when Her Majesty’s Air Force transport planes delivered thousands of modern anti-tank missiles to Ukraine,” said the President.

According to him, at the meeting with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, an agreement was reached on joint actions to ensure peace, security and stability in the Black Sea region, as well as to intensify cooperation in the field of cyber defense and cyber security.

For his part, Boris Johnson said that the escalation of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine would be a political, humanitarian and military catastrophe for Russia and the world. Therefore, he is convinced that the Russian Federation needs to take a step back and choose the path of diplomacy.

The Prime Minister stressed that the United Kingdom has in recent years provided and continues to provide assistance to Ukraine to strengthen its security and defense.

“Alongside other countries, we are also preparing a package of sanctions and other measures to be enacted the moment the first Russian toecap crosses further into Ukrainian territory. We have done all this as a demonstration that we will always stand up for freedom, democracy and Ukrainian sovereignty in the face of aggression,” the British Prime Minister said.