Volodymyr Zelensky has heaped reward on his “true friend” and ally Boris Johnson, because the prime minister enters his remaining few days in workplace.
In a sign of the esteem by which the Ukrainian president holds Mr Johnson, Mr Zelensky has written a chunk within the Mail on Sunday and spoken to the Sunday Times about his gratitude to the outgoing British premier.
In each, Mr Zelensky expressed his hope for future “close relations” with Mr Johnson’s successor, who could possibly be in line for an invite to go to Kyiv.
Mr Zelenksy instructed the Sunday Times that it might be a “priority” to increase an invite to the subsequent prime minister, whereas he additionally admitted that he was “concerned” when he heard Mr Johnson was resigning.
“When we learned that there would be a change of government, all of us were concerned,” he instructed the paper.
“Johnson was supporting us and a lot depends on the leader. The leader is the one who communicates. The leader is the one that mediates between a country and its people, and a leader has an impact upon society.”
Speaking about Mr Johnson’s successor, he mentioned of that relationship: “I can only pray that it will be at the same level as I had with prime minister Johnson.”
In the Mail on Sunday, he paid tribute to UK solidarity with the nation because the Russian invasion.
Mr Zelensky additionally used the article to thank overseas secretary Liz Truss and defence secretary Ben Wallace, calling them “great leaders and friends of Ukraine”.
“At every assembly and dialog between us, Boris had one superb query: What else? What else do you want?
“It became our watchword, guaranteeing effective progress. Believe me, not many politicians are ready to do this.”
Mr Zelensky says that he believes “in the power of personal leadership”.
“I know it has not been an easy ride for Boris Johnson as he had to deal with many internal challenges. Prioritising support for Ukraine demanded a great courage and determination.”
He continues: “Last month, Ukraine celebrated the 31st anniversary of our independence.
“Again, Boris Johnson was with us, welcomed by ordinary Ukrainians.
“We even started to address him, warmly and humorously, as ‘Boris Johnsoniuk’ – a Ukrainian sounding surname if you put a stress on the last syllable – inspired by his Instagram account @borisjohnsonuk.”
Mr Johnson will depart workplace on Tuesday, after a summer-long management contest between Ms Truss and Rishi Sunak.
The overseas secretary is extensively tipped to change into prime minister subsequent week.
The Ukrainian president mentioned he would welcome whoever the subsequent prime minister is and would set up “close relations”.
“I sincerely hope that Boris’s legacy in this fight against Russian barbarism will be preserved. We will continue to fight on because we do not have any other option. It is our lives and our future at stake. And we still need the UK’s support and leadership.”
Mr Zelensky concludes by paying tribute to “my friend Boris”.
“The 19th century Ukrainian poet, Taras Shevchenko, called upon his people to keep fighting against Russians: ‘Fight and you will prevail’. Back then, we did not have powerful friends on our side,” he writes.
“This time I have no doubt that Ukraine will succeed. That together with the UK we will make our world a safer place. And that our nations will grow even closer. As true friends. Just like me and my friend, Boris.”
Meanwhile, in an interview with the BBC, to be broadcast on Sunday, Ukrainian first woman Olena Zelenska says that whereas the remainder of Europe has been pitched into an power disaster, Ukraine is on the forefront of Russian assaults.
“I understand the situation is very tough. But let me recall that at the time of the Covid-19 epidemic, and it’s still with us, when there were price hikes, Ukraine was affected as well,” she mentioned.
“The prices are going up in Ukraine as well. But in addition our people get killed.
“So when you start counting pennies on your bank account or in your pocket, we do the same and count our casualties.”
Mrs Zelenska’s phrases echo one of many messages the outgoing prime minister has been stressing in his remaining days in workplace, amid grim warnings about hovering power payments this winter for UK households.
During his remaining go to to Kyiv as prime minister final month, Mr Johnson mentioned: “If we’re paying in our energy bills for the evils of Vladimir Putin, the people of Ukraine are paying in their blood.”
The Ukrainian first woman, talking to the Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme, additionally spoke concerning the video of a Ukrainian boy filmed crying crossing the border into Poland in March.
“I think that fathers and mothers watching this video could not but break into tears. I always place myself in their situation and I think that everyone – every human in the world should feel the same,” Mrs Zelenska mentioned.
“That’s why we have to tell these stories, to show these stories, because these are the faces of a war.
“Not a number of bombs dropped, not the amount of money spent, human stories – and there are a thousand stories like that around.”
Mrs Zelenska additionally mentioned that whereas she hardly ever sees her husband, they communicate daily.
The BBC stories that she mentioned she was “insulted” by any shock that her husband may shift from TV actor to battle chief.
“He’s the man I’ve always known. He wouldn’t do anything else.”
Source: www.unbiased.co.uk