Britain's PM addresses Ukraine parliament

AFP/ JESSICA TAYLOR/ UK PARLIAMENT

Ukraine will defeat Russia and once again be a free country, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Tuesday in an address to the Ukrainian parliament via videolink.

Johnson, who announced a further 300 million pounds (AED1350 million) in military aid to Ukraine, including electronic warfare equipment and a counter-battery radar system, said Britain would continue to supply Ukraine.

"I have one message for you today: Ukraine will win, Ukraine will be free," Johnson said, according to a transcript of the address provided by his office.

Johnson said that in its fight against Russia, Ukraine had "exploded the myth of (President Vladimir) Putin’s invincibility".

"The so-called irresistible force of Putin’s war machine has broken on the immoveable object of Ukrainian patriotism and love of country," he said.

Meanwhile, the British Government announced they will donate 13 armoured vehicles to help evacuate civilians from besieged areas in the east of Ukraine.

UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said in a statement the donation "will help protect innocent Ukrainians attempting to flee Russian shelling and support Ukrainian officials carrying out vital work".

Britain said the steel-plated vehicles, which can resist high velocity bullets, anti-personnel mines and improvised explosive devices, would also be used to transport officials to temporary command posts and to help workers rebuilding railway lines.

The vehicles were being donated from a foreign office fleet in response to a request from the Ukrainian government and would start arriving within days, the statement added.

 

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