Britain’s new Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has travelled to Kyiv for talks with Volodymyr Zelensky including on boosting Ukraine’s air defences.
Wednesday night’s meeting came as Vladimir Putin’s military unleashed a large wave of air strikes on three regions of Ukraine, many using drones.
Ukrainian fighter jets, anti-aircraft missile units and mobile fire groups thwarted many of the attacks but some got through, though the level of destruction was believed to be limited.
Early on Thursday morning, the Ukrainian president tweeted: “I received the UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps in Kyiv. I am profoundly grateful to the UK for all the financial, humanitarian, and military support, including crucial long-range capabilities. We discussed further defence cooperation and steps to strengthen Ukraine’s air defence.”
Britain has led the world in arming Ukraine against Putin’s invasion which he launched in February 2022. Early in the confict, Britain supplied Kyiv with next generation light anti-tank weapons (Nlaws), then Challenger tanks, and Storm Shadow missiles, and is sending tens of thousands more artillery shells in coming months.
I received UK Defense Secretary @GrantShapps in Kyiv.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) September 28, 2023
I am profoundly grateful to the UK for all the financial, humanitarian, and military support, including crucial long-range capabilities.
We discussed further defense cooperation and steps to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense. pic.twitter.com/hITN23AjD7
Ministers have also pushed the West to provide more military and other support to Ukraine and for the West’s resolve not to falter as the war drags on.
Mr Shapps, who hosted a Ukrainian family in his home for a year, messaged: “As Ukraine retakes its territory, UK support remains unwavering. We will work tirelessly to bring our partners together to help Ukraine defeat Putin’s illegal invasion.” Ukrainian forces are seizing more ground in the east, around the town of Bakhmut.
I've been back to Kyiv this week to ask President @ZelenskyyUa what he needs to win.
— Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) September 28, 2023
As Ukraine retakes its territory, UK support remains unwavering. We will work tirelessly to bring our partners together to help Ukraine defeat Putin's illegal invasion. Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/VSkIPO7BBs
They breached the third layer of the Russian defences around Verbove in the Zaporizhzhia province, according to some military experts, but it was not clear if they had succeeded in holding their positions. Russia carried out more air strikes early today, targeting the regions of Mykolaiv and Odesa in the south and Kirovohrad.
