Inside Volodymyr Zelensky and Boris Johson’s relationship

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is working closely with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, who is calling on Western powers to do all they can to help – but it might not save the people of Ukraine

The war in Ukraine has now been raging for the best part of two weeks with the besieged nation’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, continuing to defy his nemeses in Moscow.

Zelensky has earned plaudits around the world for his rousing social media speeches and decision to remain in the country until the fight is over.

One of Zelensky’s most frequent contacts outside of Ukraine is the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson.

Johnson has been an outspoken critic of Russia ’s invasion and has at many points publicly shown his support for Ukraine. Number 10 has displayed pictures of sunflowers – Ukraine’s national flower – in its windows, while the PM’s official Twitter account states “The UK stands with Ukraine” at the top of its feed.

Buildings in Whitehall have been lit up in blue and yellow, the colours of the Ukrainian flag.

Johnson’s contact with Zelensky

Johnson has spoken with Ukraine’s leader nearly every day since the war began, with Zelensky making requests to Johnson about what his country needs to keep fighting off the Russian advance.

Last week, Johnson went to Poland and Estonia to look at Nato defences. Speaking at a press conference in Warsaw he said: “I think in this grim war which is now, what, in its sixth day, he [ Vladimir Putin ] has fatally underestimated two things.

“The first is the passionate desire of the Ukrainian people to defend and protect their own country, their belief in their sovereign right to defend themselves.

“And may I pay tribute by the way to the leadership and courage that is being shown by Volodymyr Zelensky.

“I think he has inspired and mobilised not only his own people, he is inspiring and mobilising the world in outrage at what is happening in Ukraine.”

The Mail reports that Johnson told aides of the admiration he had for President Zelensky, allegedly exclaiming: “Jesus, that guy is brave.”

The contact between the two is ongoing. Today, March 8, Zelensky is due to address MPs in the House of Commons, while Johnson has promised a further £74 million to help Ukraine counteract the financial pressures caused by Russia’s invasion.

Outspoken calls for support

Johnson has publicly called for action from the West on multiple occasions.

In an opinion feature in the New York Times on March 6, the Prime Minister laid out a six-point plan of action that the West must take to help Ukraine.

Among other things, he called for an international humanitarian coalition, maximising economic pressure on Putin, and perhaps most starkly, for nations to send more weapons to help Ukraine defend itself.

Sending weapons

An anonymous source said to The Sun: “Zelensky has made very specific requests for military hardware during near daily phone calls, and we are working round the clock to get them into Ukraine.”

Number 10 have been reluctant to share details of which weapons have been sent to avoid giving Putin a military advantage, although has confirmed the UK will send more lethal weapons in the coming days.

Some British weapons have already made it to Ukraine.

Footage retweeted by British journalist Oz Katerji appears to show British NLAW rockets being fired by Ukrainian troops.

These particular weapons, which are shoulder-mounted anti-tank weapons, have been increasingly widely used by Ukrainian forces, with multiple outlets reporting they have been highly successful and earned praise from their new operators.

Insider reports that 2,000 of the weapons were sent to Ukraine in January before the war broke out and have been distributed widely to troops. The weapons are thought to have been sent along with military personnel to train Ukrainian forces how to use them.

No-fly zone

Weapons aside, there are limitations to what the Prime Minister – and the UK as a whole – can do to help under-siege Ukrainians on the ground.

Johnson has ruled out a controversial no-fly zone over Ukraine, despite Zelensky’s increasingly desperate pleas.

A no-fly zone would curb Russian air superiority and leave Putin’s troops trying to fight mile by mile to capture strategic towns and cities.

But it could also risk full-scale World War Three with an aggressive nuclear-armed nation, as Russia could wage retaliatory attacks on any Nato country that shoots down a Russian plane over Ukraine.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said Nato forces shooting down Russian jets would trigger Article 5 – in which all 30 member countries must come to the defence of one under attack.

“The triggering of that Article 5 would lead to a war against Russia across the whole of Europe. That is not a position that members of Nato are prepared to go,” he told Sky News.

Refugees

Boris Johnson and his home secretary Priti Patel wrought chaos with a bungled plan to issue visas to Ukrainians fleeing war – after his promise the UK would be as “generous” as it can to refugees.

The UK government came under fire for handing out just 50 visas by Sunday night, then rowed back and said the numbers were “inaccurate”.

There was more confusion when Patel claimed a visa processing centre in Calais had already been set up then changed her claim minutes later to say it was being set up.

Immigration Minister Kevin Foster sparked fury on Tuesday by suggesting the visa process is deliberately being slow because of fears over a new Salisbury-style terror attack.

He claimed migrants in Calais are “pretending to be Ukrainian” with false documents to gain access to the UK, but was shouted down by MPs criticising the burdensome Ukraine Family Scheme.

At the time of writing, just 500 visas have been granted to Ukrainian refugees.

Sanctions

Johnson has been backing the handing out of sanctions to Russian oligarchs living in the UK – but the government’s new Economic Crime Bill – rushed through last night – has left worrying loopholes.

The Bill targets Russian-linked dirty money in the UK that is sheltering in land, property and assets, which are often purchased through murky shell companies.

Attempts to toughen up the legislation failed last night, with Tories voting against a proposal for a 28-day grace period in which Russian oligarchs could declare assets in the UK. The initial 18-month proposal has instead been slashed to six months, but oligarchs can still enjoy their yachts, private jets and luxury homes without the risk of their assets being frozen once they’re named as a target for future sanctions.

Foreign secretary Liz Truss bragged the new Bill will allow the UK to sanction “hundreds of individuals” as soon as next Tuesday – but in reality, many of these people have already been sanctioned by the US and EU.

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