LONDON — President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine will visit Britain on Monday, the latest stop in what has become a whirlwind tour of European capitals as he tries to build military support for Ukraine’s expected counteroffensive against Russia.
Mr. Zelensky announced the stop in London in a post on Twitter, in which he said he would “conduct substantive negotiations” with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, whom he referred to as “my friend Rishi.”
The British government confirmed last week that it would begin supplying Ukraine with long-range cruise missiles, continuing its policy of being on the vanguard in providing the Ukrainian army heavier weapons to fight Russian forces.
The missiles, which are known as Storm Shadow and have a range of more than 155 miles, would “allow Ukraine to push back Russian forces based in Ukrainian sovereign territory,” according to Britain’s defense secretary, Ben Wallace.
Mr. Zelensky’s visit comes after he traveled over the weekend to Italy, Germany, and France, meeting with Pope Francis and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome, Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin, and President Emmanuel Macron in Paris. Mr. Zelensky’s tour comes just before European leaders hold a summit meet this week in Reykjavik, Iceland. Later in the week, leaders will reconvene in Japan for a meeting of the Group of Seven countries, where the war will likely figure prominently in discussions.
Me. Zelensky last came to Britain in February, delivering an emotional speech in Westminster Hall, where he pleaded for NATO countries to supply Ukraine with fighter jets. Mr. Sunak has said fighter jets are on the table, but has not yet taken that step.
