British Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a shock go to Saturday to Ukraine's capital metropolis, Kyiv, to satisfy with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky whereas additionally slamming Russia's "barbaric" invasion of the nation.

"At the moment I met my buddy President@ZelenskyyUa in Kyiv as a present of our unwavering assist for the individuals of Ukraine. We're setting out a brand new bundle of monetary & navy assist which is a testomony of our dedication to his nation's wrestle in opposition to Russia's barbaric marketing campaign," the prime minister tweeted.

Johnson didn't elaborate on what the monetary and navy bundle would come with. Nevertheless, a day earlier, he introduced that Britain would provide Ukraine with £100 million ($130 million) value of weapons after Russia bombed a prepare station within the japanese metropolis of Kramatorsk.

After the assembly, Zelensky shared a picture of himself shaking arms with Johnson whereas writing on Fb that he's "probably the most principled opponents of the Russian invasion, a frontrunner in sanctions strain on Russia and protection assist of Ukraine."

The prime minister's go to got here amid a wave of European assist for Ukraine as Russia continues to hold out violent assaults on the nation's residents. Additionally on Saturday, Austria's Chancellor Karl Nehammer traveled to Kyiv to debate strengthening sanctions, supporting an power and oil embargo in opposition to Russia, and fast-tracking Ukraine's membership to the European Union (EU), in accordance with a press release from Zelensky.

On Friday, European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen pledged to supply Ukraine a speedier path to changing into a member of the EU, stating that "it won't as common be a matter of years to type this opinion however I believe a matter of weeks," CNBC reported. Gaining entry into the EU usually takes a number of years to barter and make sure, however Zelensky has pushed for an expedited course of as a result of conflict.

In the meantime, Italy's International Minister Luigi Di Maio reportedly advised employees this weekend that the nation will quickly reopen its embassy in Kyiv. He referred to as the transfer "one other gesture to reveal assist for the Ukrainian inhabitants, a concrete approach to affirm that diplomacy should prevail," in accordance with the Related Press.

Boris Johnson
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a shock go to to Kyiv on Saturday to satisfy with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Above, the 2 leaders are seen on the presidential palace on February 1 in Kyiv.WPA Pool/Getty Pictures

The most recent spherical of European assist comes after Russia was accused of committing a number of conflict crimes throughout the nation. On Friday, a Russian missile struck a prepare station in Kramatorsk, situated within the japanese Donbas area, killing at the least 50 Ukrainians, who had been trying to flee the nation.

Days earlier, Ukrainian officers mentioned that Russian troopers massacred and tortured tons of of civilians close to Kyiv. Graphic photographs have emerged exhibiting mass graves and corpses with their arms tied behind their backs within the city of Bucha. Russian troops have additionally been accused of raping and torturing ladies.

The assaults sparked widespread condemnation, with President Joe Biden labeling Russian President Vladimir Putin a "brutal conflict prison." Eugene Finkel, a Holocaust skilled, advised Newsweek final week that Russia's actions are akin to genocide of the Ukrainian individuals.

Newsweek contacted the international ministries of Ukraine and Russia for extra remark.