Zelenskyy Visits The UK To Start His Campaign To Receive Combat Aircraft
Zelenskyy meets King Charles III, and addresses both Houses of Parliament in London
Day 349 (7 February)
The damage to the energy grids in Odesa are grave, and emergency power cuts will remain in place until at least 11-12 February 2023. This gives us an indication of how bad the damage is that an entire city has no little power for nearly a week. Odesa is also an important port for the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
In Crimea, the SBU liquidated a number of companies that had been financing the Russian National Guard, an Interior Ministry. The companies were linked to the Oskana Marchenko, wife of Viktor Medvedchuk who is a Kremlin politician.
Parliament votes to extend martial law and mobilisation again for a further 90 days. This is the 6th time since the invasion began on 24 February 2022.
The Mayor of Paris (Anne Hidalgo) has stated that she is opposed to Russians competing in the Olympics in 2024 if the war in Ukraine is still on.
The European Council President, Charles Michel has invited Zelenskyy to the EU Summit in Brussels on 9 February 2023.
Switzerland is considering lifting a ban on weapons to be exported to war zones. Polls indicate 55% of people are in favour of the ban, and the country is coming under political pressure to change their laws.
In Luhansk, reports claim that teachers are being forced to have Russian passports if they want to carry on working and to get paid.
Day 350 (8 February)
The big news of the day was Zelenskyy making an unannounced visit to the UK, where he addressed both Houses of Parliament, had a private audience with King Charles III for 30 minutes in the 1844 room, and had discussions with Sunak and Wallace to request aircraft to help defend Ukraine.
Zelenskyy is a target, but his trip to Europe has been promoted, perhaps so that Russia can see that the Western allies will protect him and that they support Ukraine. Zelenskyy will meet Macron and Scholz (who will arrive later in the evening) in Paris tonight. On Thursday, Zelenskyy is to attend the EU Summit in Brussels, furthering ties with the EU and giving the appearance that EU membership will be sealed soon.
Some EU politicians have expressed disappointment that Zelenskyy visited the UK first rather than Brussels, but that is just pettiness. The UK is still part of Europe and the country was the first to supply weapons to aid Ukraine, so of course he will visit and thank the country. One said, “If you truly believe that the EU was the destiny of your country, then you would make sure to come here first signal that importance.” Obviously that came from someone who disliked the UK leaving the EU, and perhaps they should be more concerned about Hungary that seems to ignore EU regulations and who supports Russia under the table?
Zelenskyy’s speech thanked the support of the UK, especially Boris Johnson, and thanked Sunak for the ongoing support. A helmet was presented to Sir Lindsay Hoyle (Speaker of the House of Commons) with the message:
We have freedom, give us wings to protect it.
After the tank coalition, Zelensky is pursuing an aviation coalition, as Ukraine needs fighter jets to protect the skies. The US has said no, but the UK is considering the issue and looking at what aircraft could be sent. Poland has been waiting to send aircraft since last March, but can only do so with NATO approval.
To end his speech, Zelenskyy said, "I will leave Parliament today, thanking you all in advance for powerful English planes.” He is aware that there is war fatigue and that he must present his case in person to maintain the help that Ukraine has received and to justify his requests. His call for the West to send combat aircraft has begun, ‘Combat aircraft for Ukraine, wings for freedom,’ and he called for more sanctions to be imposed against Russia and their allies.
Germany has announced that it will send 80 older Leopard one thanks by the end of the year, and about 20 to 25 will be delivered in the summer. This is because the tanks need to be repaired and reconditioned in order for them to be active.
The Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany issued a joint statement, stating that between them they will supply at least 100 Leopard one tanks. They will also organise support and training, as apply spare parts and ammunition.
There is more opposition against Russians and Belarusian, athletes who might be permitted to compete in the Olympics due to the IOC considering allowing them to compete under a neutral flag. Several Nordic countries have expressed their opposition to the IOC’s statement, and include Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Norway, who issued a joint statement, stating "Now is not the right time to consider their return; that is our position.”
The UK had already announced it would train Ukrainian soldiers and supply more military aid prior to Zelenskyy’s visit. While in the UK, Zelenskyy visited some soldiers at Lulworth Camp, who were being trained in the UK to operate the Challenger 2 tanks. Sunak has said that the UK will train pilots to operate NATO and British fighter jets which indicates that the UK will supply some aircraft. This means other countries will have to reconsider the issue, especially the US who recently said ‘no’, to the request.
As expected, the Russian Embassy has stated that if the UK supplies fighter jets to Ukraine that there will be consequences for the UK, Europe, and the rest of the world.
A tank summit will be held next week to discuss the logistics of providing the Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. This is so that there can be some organisation as to when the tanks will arrive and who will supply training, and spare parts, and to assist with repairs.
Portugal has announced it will send 3 Leopard 2 tanks, once it has received parts from Germany as they need to be repaired first.
Russia seems to be getting more isolated as it appears that the missile that downed MH17 was possibly supplied by Putin, although there is no proof that he gave the order.
Ukrainian troops in Bakhmut are being surrounded and are holding their ground, but the Russians are determined to get a win. People are still living in the area, refusing to evacuate and even the aid workers who drop off food cannot understand why they don’t leave. Their reasons are that they have no money to go abroad (lots of charities will help) and that they think nowhere in Ukraine is safe. Bakhmut is definitively not the safest place, and if the Russians occupy Bakhmut, then it will be too late to leave, just as others left it too late to leave Kherson and Mariupol.
As expected, Putin threatens a "response" if the UK gives fighter jets to Ukraine.