HERO war leader Volodymyr Zelensky has hailed Boris Johnson’s “historical leadership” in rallying allies to arm Ukraine.
Kyiv expects a shipment of tanks to arrive within days to bolster their bid to see off Putin’s struggling army that they branded “worse than ISIS”.
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President Zelensky said in a video address to his people he had “agreed on new defensive support for Ukraine” in a call with the PM, adding: “Thank you Boris for the leadership! Historical leadership. I’m sure of it.”
Today Boris will say the West has a duty to give Ukraine “everything they need” to finish off the “failing” Russian invasion.
As the world reeled from genocidal butchery inflicted by Putin’s troops fleeing the area around Kyiv, the PM said: “We have a responsibility to give them everything they need to face down this barbaric attempt to subjugate the Ukrainian people.”
And he warned the Kremlin the UK “will not rest until justice is served” for war crimes committed during the “despicable” onslaught.
The PM said last night: “I will do everything in my power to starve Putin’s war machine. We are stepping up our sanctions and military support, as well as bolstering our humanitarian support package to help those in need on the ground.”
The UK has already directly supplied more than 6,000 missiles, 4,000 anti-tank weapons like NLAWs, and the Starstreak anti-aircraft system to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Behind the scenes the Ministry of Defence has been acting as a “middle man” helping Ukraine secure a shopping list of military hardware from 30 countries that has helped stop the invasion in its tracks.
Now Mr Johnson also wants to send anti-ship missiles to defend Ukraine from a possible invasion of Odessa from the Black Sea.
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Meanwhile Britain and the US are coordinating additional arm supplies from 30 allied nations.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba yesterday confirmed a shipment of tanks from NATO would arrive within days
He told Times Radio, we will be receiving tanks shortly…Wait a couple of days you will see that you will see it. I’m sure you will see it in the news.”
US officials confirmed at the weekend that a transfer of Soviet era tanks was being prepared.
Although they would not say which country would be donating the armoury, Poland recently ordered a number of US made M1A2 Abram tanks to replace its Soviet T-72 battle tanks, which are due to be withdrawn from service.
Speaking ahead of NATO’s 73rd birthday today, Mr Johnson said last night: “73 years ago, today the founding members of NATO came together, united loosely by geography but bound more tightly by a shared belief in freedom and sovereignty. Three-quarters of a century later that conviction and drive endures.
“It is that self-same freedom which the people of Ukraine are fighting for with every fibre of their being.
“As members of the greatest security alliance in the history of the world, we have a responsibility to give them everything they need to face down this barbaric attempt to subjugate the Ukrainian people.
“As the largest European contributor to the Alliance and as a staunch friend to Ukraine, the UK will continue to do just that.”
Help those fleeing conflict with The Sun’s Ukraine Fund
PICTURES of women and children fleeing the horror of Ukraine’s devastated towns and cities have moved Sun readers to tears.
Many of you want to help the five million caught in the chaos — and now you can, by donating to The Sun’s Ukraine Fund.
Give as little as £3 or as much as you can afford and every penny will be donated to the Red Cross on the ground helping women, children, the old, the infirm and the wounded.
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The Ukraine Crisis Appeal will support people in areas currently affected and those potentially affected in the future by the crisis.
In the unlikely event that the British Red Cross raise more money than can be reasonably and efficiently spent, any surplus funds will be used to help them prepare for and respond to other humanitarian disasters anywhere in the world.
For more information visit https://donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/disaster-fund
