Ukraine's Zelenskyy to address British government meeting first time since Clinton in 1997

The Guardian reported the information.

Zelenskyy is the first foreign leader to visit Downing Street since Keir Starmer was elected prime minister and the first foreign leader to address the government in person since US President Bill Clinton in 1997.

"Ukraine is and will always be at the heart of my government's agenda, so it is only fitting that President Zelenskyy will deliver a historic address to my cabinet," Starmer said.

During his speech, Zelenskyy is expected to brief the ministers on the situation in Ukraine, the need to build up Europe's defense industrial base, and the terms of the £3.5 billion credit line for military exports. The Ukrainian president is also likely to call for a stop to Russia's shadow fleet.

This is Zelenskyy's second visit to the UK since the start of the full-scale war. The last time he visited the UK was in February 2023. Back then, Zelenskyy spoke at Westminster Hall and called on Britain to provide Ukraine with fighter jets.

For reference. After Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the number of oil tankers operating without proper insurance increased. This allowed the Kremlin to build a shadow fleet and maintain oil revenues. The shadow fleet consists of about 600 vessels and accounts for about 10% of the world's "liquid cargo" fleet. The British government believes that it transports about 1.7 million barrels of oil per day. In addition, some vessels are likely to serve as listening stations, and some are transporting weapons to Russia.

• President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in the United Kingdom on Thursday, July 18.
• The UK imposed sanctions on 11 ships carrying Russian oil.