Johnson offers Zelensky 120 armoured vehicles – follow live

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Ukrainian woman gifts Boris Johnson a cockerel drink jug during Kyiv visit with Zelensky

Boris Johnson has offered Volodymyr Zelensky 120 armoured vehicles and new anti-ship missile systems during their meeting in Kyiv, according to Downing Street.

The British PM’s surprise visit to Ukraine’s capital to meet Mr Zelensky in person is his first since Vladimir Putin launched the Russian invasion on 24 February. He said it was to show “unwavering support” for Ukraine.

Following today’s meeting, Mr Johnson said in a statement: “We are stepping up our own military and economic support and convening a global alliance to bring this tragedy to an end, and ensure Ukraine survives and thrives as a free and sovereign nation.”

It comes the day after he announced a further £100 million worth of UK military assistance, including anti-tank and anti-aircraft weaponry.

Meanwhile, with Mr Zelensky warning of a “decisive battle” with Putin amassing troops in eastern Ukraine, authorities told civilians in Luhansk to flee. Ten humanitarian corridors in Donbas are reportedly agreed for evacuations today, including from Mariupol.

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Tomorrow’s papers: War in Ukraine on the front pages

The Independent: Johnson’s face-to-face with Zelensky

The Observer: PM pledges new arms during surprise visit to war-torn Kyiv

The Sunday Telegraph: Full-scale Nato military force to defend borders

The Sunday Times: Brothers in arms / The 12-year-old girl among child victims of railway station massacre

The Sunday Express: Welcome to Kyiv, my friend

Lamiat Sabin9 April 2022 23:59

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Russian troops accused of blocking Ukraine evacuation buses

Russian forces blocked buses from evacuating Ukrainians from three cities today, Ukraine said.

Today, 4,532 people fled their homes through 10 humanitarian corridors – 3,425 of them leaving on evacuation buses.

They were from cities in the Zaporizhzhia region: Polohy, Vasylivka, Berdiansk, Tokmak, Melitopol and Enerhodar.

A total of 192 of them were from Mariupol.

But buses for evacuating people from Berdiansk, Tokmak and Enerhodar had to be returned to Zaporizhzhia because “the Russian occupying forces refused to let them pass along the agreed route.”

Also, 578 people were evacuated from cities Lysychansk, Sievierodonetsk, Rubizhne, Kreminna and Popasna in the Luhansk region.

The authorities are set to try again tomorrow to evacuate more Ukrainian citizens.

Lamiat Sabin9 April 2022 23:30

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UK leadership ‘will be remembered forever in history’ – Zelensky

Volodymr Zelensky praised Boris Johnson for visiting him in Kyiv today.

In a video address, the Ukrainian president said his British counterpart has made history with its pledges to provide more military and financial support to Ukraine.

Johnson and Zelensky walk around Kyiv

(AP)

Mr Zelensky said: “It was a great honour for me on your behalf, on behalf of all Ukrainians, to welcome a sincere friend of Ukraine – the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson – to our capital.

“His visit to our country demonstrates as clearly as possible that there are no obstacles to freedom. There are no obstacles to leadership. Boris was among those who did not hesitate for a moment whether to support Ukraine.

“The leadership of the United Kingdom will be remembered forever in history for providing our country with the necessary assistance, especially defence, as well as leadership on sanctions policy.

“In the history of the defence of democracy, in the history of the defence of Europe. Ukraine will always be grateful to Boris and Britain for this”.

Lamiat Sabin9 April 2022 22:40

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‘Russia continues to use improvised explosive devices (IEDs)’

Russian forces continue to use improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to inflict casualties, lower morale, and restrict Ukrainian freedom of movement, according to UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD).

IEDs are “homemade” bombs typically used by suicide bombers, or are attached to vehicles.

“Russian forces also continue to attack infrastructure targets with a high risk of collateral harm to civilians,’ the MoD said in a statement.

Russia’s departure from northern Ukraine leaves evidence of the disproportionate targeting of non-combatants, it also said.

Lamiat Sabin9 April 2022 22:20

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Pictures: Pro-Putin rally held on Beirut beach

Pro-Russia people in Lebanon held a rally in Beirut in support of Vladimir Putin.

Dozens of people spent their Saturday standing on the beach to wave Russian flags and light candles.

(Hassan Ammar/AP)

Pictures show the candles arranged in a Z-formation, which has become a symbol of the Russian invasion of Ukraine used most notably by Putin’s forces.

(AP)

Putin’s fans in Beirut are also pictured holding images of the Russian president.

(AP)

Lamiat Sabin9 April 2022 22:00

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Johnson and Zelensky walk around Kyiv ‘because they bloody can’

The official Twitter account of the country of Ukraine has posted footage of Boris Johnson and Volodymyr Zelensky walking briskly around Kyiv while surrounded by armed guards.

The caption posted with the video says: “Because they bloody can.”

Mr Johnson and Mr Zelensky are seen walking around the Ukrainian capital – apparently barely saying a word to each other at first – while sirens blare in the background and perplexed bystanders look on.

The British PM appears to relax somewhat as he takes in the sights of the city and waves enthusiastically to members of the public before visiting a ‘Hundred Heavenly Heroes’ memorial.

Then, the two heads of state meet a woman armed with porcelain cockerel drink jugs – that she gives to the pair.

(Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)

Lamiat Sabin9 April 2022 21:40

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More than 4,500 people evacuated via humanitarian corridors

A total of 4,532 people were evacuated from Ukrainian cities through humanitarian corridors today.

Archive photo of people being evacuated from Kharkiv this week

(Thomas Peter/Reuters)

Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy head of Ukraine‘s presidential administration, made the announcement in an online post.

On Friday, 6,665 people fled through humanitarian corridors – he said.

Lamiat Sabin9 April 2022 21:20

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Ukraine president ‘committed to peace’ despite ‘torture of nation’

Volodymyr Zelensky has said he is committed to pressing for peace despite Russian attacks on civilians that have stunned the world.

Ukraine’s president made the comments in an interview with The Associated Press a day after at least 52 people were killed in a strike on a train station in the eastern city of Kramatorsk.

“No-one wants to negotiate with a person or people who tortured this nation. It’s all understandable. And as a man, as a father, I understand this very well,” Mr Zelensky said.

But he added: “We don’t want to lose opportunities, if we have them, for a diplomatic solution”.

The AP Interview Russia Ukraine War Zelenskyy

(Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Zoe Tidman9 April 2022 21:00

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Boris Johnson visit in images

Here are some of the main images from Boris Johnson’s visit to Ukraine today:

(AFP/Getty)

Boris Johnson meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office/PA)

(PA Media)

Volodymyr Zelensky and Boris Johnson walk during their meeting in downtown Kyiv

(AP)

Zoe Tidman9 April 2022 20:46

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Johnson and Zelensky walk streets of Kyiv

Ukraine’s defence ministry has shared a video of Boris Johnson and Volodymyr Zelensky walking the streets of Kyiv together.

The British prime minister speaks to a resident on the street, telling him he has a “remarkable president”.

Zoe Tidman9 April 2022 20:35

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