Plane, train, car and helicopter – then roast beef and goat’s cheese: Secrets of PM’s Kyiv dash

BORIS Johnson bonded with president Volodymyr Zelensky over a roast beef dinner during his secret visit to Kyiv, it was revealed yesterday.

The Prime Minister held a bilateral meeting with the Ukrainian leader during his five-hour whistlestop trip to the capital – which he reached by car, helicopter, military plane and train.

It began with an hour-long meeting between the two leaders in the president’s offices before a 30-minute walkabout to Independence Square in the city centre.

Mr Johnson met locals and assured them that Britain was backing them, before the leaders paid their respects in front of memorials to war victims.

They then dined on a starter of goat’s cheese salad and chicken soup, followed by a main course of roast beef and cherry dumplings for dessert.

Asked who accompanied the Prime Minister on the visit, a Downing Street spokesman said: ‘It was a very small delegation. I believe it was one member of his private office and then security.’ Mr Johnson left on Friday evening and travelled overnight before arriving back in the UK on Sunday morning, she said.

No10 said the discreet visit was a ‘show of solidarity’ with the Ukrainian people, whom Mr Johnson described as having the courage of a lion.

After the trip, Downing Street announced the UK would send 120 armoured vehicles and anti-ship missile systems to Kyiv and boost economic support, taking total British loan guarantees to £770million.

In a statement following the meeting, Mr Johnson paid tribute to ‘president Zelensky’s resolute leadership and the invincible heroism and courage of the Ukrainian people’.

Mr Johnson is now at Chequers, his country retreat, with a view to having ‘a bit of a break’ for a couple of days.

The spokesman said the intention is for the Prime Minister to ‘get some rest and spend some time with family’, while receiving updates on Ukraine.