UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will praise Ukraine’s resistance against Russia and tyranny as a whole as an exemplar for the world in a virtual address to the country’s parliament.
The speech comes as the UK promised an additional 300 million British pounds in military aid to Ukraine. It makes Johnson the first leader in the world to address Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada since Russia invaded the country in February.
Johnson is hoping to show critics that he is focused on international affairs as he continues to be under fire for his leadership abilities.
The speech to Ukraine’s MPs reciprocates the move made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who gave a historic speech to the British House of Commons in March.
Johnson’s speech discusses his own country’s resolve during World War II, remarking that the United Kingdom remembers its time of great peril as its finest hour. Johnson says that the bravery demonstrated by Ukrainians seeking to defend their country from Russian invaders means that the war will also be known historically as Ukraine’s “finest hour” as well.
Russia is trying to focus attention on the south and east within Ukraine after its military forces failed to take the capital city Kyiv. Johnson is hoping his speech will provide a morale boost to Ukraine forces.
Johnson visited Kyiv in April on a secret trip, walking the streets of Kyiv with Zelensky. Other senior western politicians have also been to the city recently, including U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who was there within the past week.
The latest package of military aid will include electronic warfare equipment, a counter-battery radar system, GPS jamming equipment, and thousands of night vision devices.
The UK will also send more than a dozen new specialized vehicles in the form of Toyota Landcruisers in the coming weeks to help protect civilians and evacuate them from the frontlines.
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