View source for 2023 visit by Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the United Kingdom

{{Short description|Meeting of leaders of Ukraine and the United Kingdom}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox event
| image = Prime Minister Rishi Sunak greets Volodymyr Zelenskyy (52676903823).jpg
| caption = President Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Sunak meeting at [[London Stansted Airport]]
| date = {{start date|2023|02|08|df=y}}
| Location = London, United Kingdom
}}
On 8 February 2023, [[Volodymyr Zelenskyy]], the [[president of Ukraine]], visited the [[United Kingdom]]. During his trip, Zelenskyy met [[Rishi Sunak]], the [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|prime minister of the United Kingdom]]. He also addressed Members of Parliament from Westminster Hall in the Houses of Parliament and had an audience with [[Charles III|King Charles III]]. It was Zelenskyy's second trip outside Ukraine since the beginning of the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|Russian invasion of Ukraine]], after his [[2022 visit by Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the United States|December 2022 visit to the United States]].<ref name="Sky-meet">{{Cite web|title=Ukrainian President Zelenskyy to meet PM and King today in first UK visit since Russian invasion|url=https://news.sky.com/story/ukrainian-president-volodymyr-zelenskyy-to-arrive-in-uk-today-to-meet-rishi-sunak-12805795 |last=Culbertson |first=Alix |date=8 February 2023 |access-date=8 February 2023 |website=Sky News|language=en|archive-date=8 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208083119/https://news.sky.com/story/ukrainian-president-volodymyr-zelenskyy-to-arrive-in-uk-today-to-meet-rishi-sunak-12805795|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=8 February 2023|title=Zelenskyy visits UK for first time since Russia's invasion, as Ukraine claims deadliest day of war so far|language=en-AU|work=ABC News|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-08/ukraine-says-russians-endure-deadliest-day/101945078|access-date=8 February 2023|archive-date=8 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208015700/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-08/ukraine-says-russians-endure-deadliest-day/101945078|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Zelenskyy tells UK MPs Ukraine needs 'wings for freedom' |url=https://www.dw.com/en/ukraines-zelenskyy-visiting-the-uk-on-rare-trip-abroad/a-64639432 |date=8 February 2023 |access-date=8 February 2023|website=dw.com|language=en|archive-date=8 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208093638/https://www.dw.com/en/ukraines-zelenskyy-visiting-the-uk-on-rare-trip-abroad/a-64639432|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Zelenskyy to meet Sunak, King Charles on first wartime UK trip|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/2/8/ukraines-zelenskyy-to-meet-pm-sunak-in-first-wartime-trip-to-uk |date=8 February 2023 |access-date=8 February 2023|website=Al Jazeera |language=en|archive-date=8 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208101831/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/2/8/ukraines-zelenskyy-to-meet-pm-sunak-in-first-wartime-trip-to-uk |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Background==
On 24 February 2022, [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|Russia invaded Ukraine]] in a major escalation of the [[Russo-Ukrainian War]] that began in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|date=24 February 2022|title=Putin Declares War on Ukraine |url=https://kyivindependent.com/national/putin-declares-war-on-ukraine|access-date=22 December 2022 |website=The Kyiv Independent|archive-date=12 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220412183252/https://kyivindependent.com/national/putin-declares-war-on-ukraine/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=24 February 2022|title=Putin announces formal start of Russia's invasion in eastern Ukraine |website=Meduza |url=https://meduza.io/en/news/2022/02/24/putin-announces-start-of-military-operation-in-eastern-ukraine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220224033732/https://meduza.io/en/news/2022/02/24/putin-announces-start-of-military-operation-in-eastern-ukraine|archive-date=24 February 2022|access-date=22 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Russian President Vladimir Putin announces military assault against Ukraine in surprise speech|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/russian-president-vladimir-putin-announces-military-assault-against-ukraine-in-surprise-speech/ar-AAUebpI|access-date=22 December 2022 |website=MSN |language=en-US|archive-date=24 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220224064559/https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/russian-president-vladimir-putin-announces-military-assault-against-ukraine-in-surprise-speech/ar-AAUebpI|url-status=live}}</ref> Throughout the war, a number of states have provided [[List of foreign aid to Ukraine during the Russo-Ukrainian War|military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine]], including the United Kingdom; in 2022, the UK government spent {{Currency|2.3 billion|pound sterling}} on military aid for Ukraine.<ref>{{Cite news|title=What weapons are being given to Ukraine by the UK? |language=en-GB |last1=Brown |first1=David |last2=Ahmedzade |first2=Tural |date=20 September 2022 |work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61482305 |access-date=8 February 2023|archive-date=21 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221204756/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61482305|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=25 January 2023 |title=Military assistance to Ukraine since the Russian invasion |url=https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9477/ |website=UK Parliament—House of Commons Library |access-date=8 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=What military equipment has the UK sent Ukraine? |url=https://www.forces.net/ukraine/what-military-equipment-has-uk-sent-ukraine|access-date=8 February 2023|website=Forces Network|language=en|archive-date=8 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208104812/https://www.forces.net/ukraine/what-military-equipment-has-uk-sent-ukraine|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Visit to the United Kingdom==
[[File:Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses Parliament (52676732611).jpg|thumb|Zelenskyy addressing Members of Parliament from Westminster Hall in the Houses of Parliament]]

===Meeting with Rishi Sunak===
Zelenskyy flew from [[Rzeszów–Jasionka Airport]] in Poland to [[London Stansted Airport]] aboard an RAF [[Boeing C-17 Globemaster III|C-17]] ([[United Kingdom military aircraft serial numbers|serial number]] ZZ178). He was greeted on the tarmac at Stansted by the prime minister of the United Kingdom, [[Rishi Sunak]], who invited Zelenskyy to 10 Downing Street.<ref name="Sky-meet" />

===Addressing Parliament===
Zelenskyy addressed Members of Parliament from Westminster Hall in the Houses of Parliament,<ref name="DE-to visit troops" /> where he received a standing ovation. {{Citation needed|date=March 2023}}

===Audience with Charles III===
Zelenskyy had an audience with Charles III.<ref name="DE-to visit troops" />

===Troops visit===
Zelenskyy visited Ukrainian troops being trained at [[Lulworth Camp]] in [[Dorset]].<ref name="DE-to visit troops">{{Cite web |title=President Zelensky and Rishi Sunak to visit troops in Dorset later today |url=https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/23308003.volodymyr-zelensky-rishi-sunak-visit-troops-dorset/ |last=McManus |first=Oliver |date=8 February 2023 |access-date=8 February 2023 |website=Dorset Echo |language=en |archive-date=9 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209013129/https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/23308003.volodymyr-zelensky-rishi-sunak-visit-troops-dorset/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=President Zelensky and Rishi Sunak meet Ukrainian troops in Dorset |url=https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/23308824.president-zelensky-rishi-sunak-meet-ukrainian-troops-dorset/ |date=8 February 2023 |access-date=8 February 2023 |website=Dorset Echo |language=en |archive-date=9 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209013134/https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/23308824.president-zelensky-rishi-sunak-meet-ukrainian-troops-dorset/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed" heights="160" caption="President Zelenskyy during 2023 trip to the UK">
File:The Prime Minister welcomes the Ukrainian President (52676630386).jpg
File:Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses Parliament (52676220432).jpg
File:Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses Parliament (52676220592).jpg
File:Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses Parliament (52676731266).jpg
File:Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses Parliament (52676732491).jpg
File:Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses Parliament (52676732556).jpg
File:Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses Parliament (52677222708).jpg
</gallery>
{{clear}}

==See also==

* [[List of international presidential trips made by Volodymyr Zelenskyy]]
* [[2022 visit by Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the United States]]
* [[2023 visit by Joe Biden to Ukraine]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Volodymyr Zelenskyy}}
{{Rishi Sunak}}
{{2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the United Kingdom, 2023 visit by}}
[[Category:2023 in international relations]]
[[Category:2023 in British politics]]
[[Category:2023 in London]]
[[Category:February 2023 events in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Events affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine]]
[[Category:State visits by Ukrainian leaders]]
[[Category:Diplomatic visits]]
[[Category:Volodymyr Zelenskyy trips|United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Rishi Sunak]]
[[Category:Charles III]]
[[Category:Ukraine–United Kingdom relations]]