BORIS Johnson has made another secret trip to Ukraine to see President Zelensky – and was awarded the country’s highest honour.
On what will likely be his last visit to Kyiv as PM, he pledged Britain’s “unwavering” support even after he leaves No10.
Boris Johnson meeting President Zelensky today
Mr Johnson also announced a further £54million of defensive kit to the war-ravaged country that today marks 31 years of independence.
Speaking on his third trip to the city, he said: “For the past six months, the United Kingdom has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine, supporting this sovereign country to defend itself from this barbaric and illegal invader.
“Today’s package of support will give the brave and resilient Ukrainian Armed Forces another boost in capability, allowing them to continue to push back Russian forces and fight for their freedom.
“What happens in Ukraine matters to us all, which is why I am here today to deliver the message that the United Kingdom is with you and will be with you for the days and months ahead, and you can and will win.”
He made the dash as Ben Wallace revealed Vladimir Putin’s invaders were advancing just METRES each week as heroic Ukrainian troops grind them into a stalemate.
The Defence Secretary said the clapped-out Russian army has suffered far more losses in the past six months than it did during a decade fighting in Afghanistan.
Kremlin troops were now in such a “very fragile state” that President Zelensky’s warriors could soon retake ceded territory, he added.
Laying bare the high price of Mad Vlad’s bungled invasion, Mr Wallace said: “We do accept the sort of observations of Russian losses to be – if you combine deaths, injuries, desertions – over 80,000 of their armed forces.
“That’s 80,000 in six months compared to 15,000 they lost in a decade in Afghanistan.”
He compared their progress to the snail-paced advances in the First World War and said it was measured in “metres, not miles”.
