Zelensky: If rest of world was like UK, war would be over

IF other countries had been as courageous and supportive as Britain, the war in Ukraine would be over by now, Volodymyr Zelensky said yesterday.

In an address to his country the president singled out Boris Johnson for praise – something he has been less inclined to do for other leaders.

He even said that Russian rockets fired after Mr Johnson’s historic address to the Ukrainian parliament on Tuesday were a ‘compliment’.

The speech from Downing Street via video-link came as the UK announced another £300million of military aid to Ukraine.

Mr Zelensky said: ‘If everyone in the world, or at least the vast majority, were steadfast and courageous as Britain I am sure we would already have ended this war and restored peace throughout our liberated territory for all our people. But we still have to fight.

‘On the day you, Boris, addressed our parliament, the Russians launched 15 missile strikes at Ukraine. And this can be called a certain “Russian compliment” to your brilliant speech and to our fruitful inter-state co-operation. Obviously Russia is annoyed by our proximity, Ukraine and Britain, so this means that we are

‘Putin doesn’t have a victory to announce’

really strong.’ Towns and cities are braced for more ‘compliments’ in the days ahead.

According to Western officials, Russia’s tactic is to bombard urban areas before its ground troops try to advance.

The mayor of Kyiv, former boxer Vitali Klitschko, and his counterpart in the western city of Ivano-Frankivsk, Ruslan Martsinkiv, have cancelled official events, told people not to gather in public spaces but to leave town.

They fear Russia will step up its offensive before Monday, when Moscow commemorates the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in 1945. Vladimir Putin has likened the war in Ukraine to the challenge faced by the Soviet Union when Hitler’s forces invaded in 1941.

Previous Victory Days have brought Russia and former Soviet states such as Ukraine together, but this year will be different, say Western officials. One said: ‘The messaging from Putin will likely be defensive, because he doesn’t have a victory to announce.’