Ukraine's Zelenskyy to address UK Cabinet as it approves defence finance deal

Ukrainian President will brief ministers about war and agree to defence export finance deal with Keir Starmer

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the European Political Community summit in Blenheim Palace, England, on July 18. Getty Images

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will be the first official visitor to Downing Street under Keir Starmer’s leadership during a visit to the UK on Friday.

Mr Zelenskyy will also be the first foreign leader to address the cabinet in person since former US president Bill Clinton in 1997.

He will address an extraordinary cabinet meeting as Mr Starmer stresses Britain’s continuing support for Ukraine.

It is expected that Mr Zelenskyy will brief ministers about the latest situation in Ukraine and the need to increase Europe’s defence industrial base, as well as agreeing to a £3.5 billion ($4.6 billion) defence export finance deal with the new UK Prime Minister.

Weapons wanted by Ukraine – in pictures

“Ukraine is, and always will be, at the heart of this government’s agenda and so it is only fitting that President Zelenskyy will make a historic address to my cabinet,” Mr Starmer said.

“Russia’s incremental gains on the battlefield are nothing compared with the collective international support for Ukraine, or the strength of ties between our people.”

From industrial sites in the UK, to factories in Ukraine, the British defence industry has been providing critical equipment to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Working with local partners, BAE Systems is providing maintenance and repair for weapons supplied by the UK to Ukraine.

Babcock International also announced a six-month extension to its contract with the British Ministry of Defence to continue to provide the maintenance, repair and management of vehicles.

This week, the ministry agreed to regenerate the UK’s ability to produce forgings for gun barrels, in partnership with Sheffield Forgemasters.

It will support the repair and overhaul of Ukrainian vehicles and mark the first step towards UK barrel production, which has been developing for 20 years.

UK industry support of this kind will enable Ukraine’s armed forces to maintain vital equipment, such as L119 light guns and the AS90 self-propelled gun, repairing battle-damaged equipment as quickly as possible.

“The UK is united for Ukraine," Defence Secretary John Healey said.

"Our new government has already pledged to step up support, confirming £3 billion a year to help Ukraine and a new package of ammunition, anti-armour missiles and artillery guns.

“Meeting with industry leaders today, I emphasised the government will continue to work in partnership with industry and the need to boost industrial production of vital military kit for both Ukraine and our own armed forces.”

At the European Political Community summit at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, on Thursday, 44 countries and the EU agreed to focus on Russia’s “shadow fleet” of tankers, which are seeking to evade sanctions on Russian oil.

The group of about 600 vessels carries 1.7 million barrels of oil a day, providing funds for Moscow’s war effort while also allegedly acting as listening stations or carrying weapons for Russia.

The ships are often old and unsafe, and engage in dangerous practices such as turning off their location tracking systems, increasing the risk of a serious collision.

“Alongside our European partners, we have sent a clear message to those enabling Putin’s attempts to evade sanctions: We will not allow Russia’s shadow fleet, and the dirty money it generates, to flow freely through European waters and put our security at risk,” Mr Starmer said.

World leaders attend European Political Community summit in UK - in pictures

Speaking at the EPC summit on Thursday, Mr Zelenskyy said Britain had been “one step ahead in its determination to support Ukraine” since the Russian invasion began.

“This is the kind of resolve we need to stop Russian terror,” he added.

On Thursday, the UK also placed sanctions on 11 oil tankers thought to be involved in evading sanctions, including the Rocky Runner, which earlier sought to escape British action by changing its operator.

Most of the ships sail under the flag of Gabon, although some – including the Rocky Runner – are flagged with the Cook Islands, while another sails under the flag of Panama.

Sanctioned vessels are prohibited from entering UK ports and may be detained or directed to enter a port.