British Prime Minister Boris Johnson held in-person discussions with Zelenskyy where he committed to providing Ukraine with military supplies



The United Kingdom is going to send more than one hundred armored vehicles and new anti-ship missile systems to Ukraine as the Russian invasion drags on.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the arrangement on Saturday during an in-person visit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

On Saturday, both Johnson and his Austrian counterpart, Chancellor Karl Nehammer, made in-person visits to Zelenskyy. The two leaders are the latest in a list of political figures who have made in-person visits to Ukraine in the midst of the ongoing Russian invasion.

The Ukrainian Embassy to the United Kingdom posted a picture of Johnson and Zelenskyy seated opposite one another at a table with the caption, “Surprise,” followed by a winking face emoji.

Surprise pic.twitter.com/AWa5RjYosD
— Embassy of Ukraine to the UK (@Embassy of Ukraine to the UK) 1649512581

CNN reported that The Press Service of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine said on its official Twitter account that Zelenskyy and Johnson engaged in diplomatic discussions in Ukraine’s capital city of Kyiv.

On his Twitter account, Johnson said, “The Ukrainians have the courage of a lion. President [Zelenskyy] has given the roar of that lion. The UK stands unwaveringly with the people of Ukraine.”

The Ukrainians have the courage of a lion.\n\nPresident @ZelenskyyUa has given the roar of that lion.\n\nThe UK stands unwaveringly with the people of Ukraine.\n\nSlava Ukraini pic.twitter.com/u6vGYqmK4V
— Boris Johnson (@Boris Johnson) 1649533143

At the time of writing, this tweet is pinned to top of Johnson’s Twitter page.

In an official statement as Prime Minister, Johnson said, “Ukraine has defied the odds and pushed back Russian forces from the gates of Kyiv, achieving the greatest feat of arms of the 21st century.”

Johnson also praised his Ukrainian counterpart’s "resolute leadership" and the “invincible heroism and courage of the Ukrainian people.” He said that the UK “stands unwaveringly with them in this ongoing fight” and that “[the British] are in it for the long run.”

Acknowledging Johnson’s steadfast support of Ukraine, Zelenskyy said, “Boris was among those who didn’t doubt for a minute whether to support Ukraine. The leadership of Great Britain in providing our country help in defense, and also leadership in sanctions policy, will always be in history.”

He added, “Ukraine will always be grateful for this to Boris and Britain.”

During a press conference, Johnson said that the United Kingdom will continue to leverage sanctions against Russia and that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has dealt a “crushing blow” to his reputation and to the global standing of the Russian government.

During a subsequent press conference, Johnson said, “We will influence Russia’s ability to use its energy sources. The war determines the vision of Ukraine’s future, so our partners and I will supply Ukraine with equipment, technology, intelligence so that Ukraine never faces the horrors of invasion and blackmail.”

Queen Elizabeth II has contracted COVID-19 despite being fully vaccinated



Queen Elizabeth II has tested positive for COVID-19, the BBC reported.

Buckingham Palace told the BBC that the queen is experiencing "mild cold-like symptoms" but expects to continue "light duties" during the coming week.

The palace's statement said, "Her Majesty is experiencing mild cold-like symptoms but expects to continue light duties at Windsor over the coming week. She will continue to receive medical attention and will follow all the appropriate guidelines."

The queen, who is 95 years old, was recently in contact with her eldest son, Prince Charles, who also tested positive for COVID-19. Both Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles are fully vaccinated. This is Charles's second bout of COVID-19 after contracting it in 2020.

Despite her elevated age, the queen will continue with "light duties" as she recovers during the week.

The British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, took to Twitter to wish the queen a "swift recovery" and a "rapid return to vibrant good health."

I\u2019m sure I speak for everyone in wishing Her Majesty The Queen a swift recovery from Covid and a rapid return to vibrant good health.
— Boris Johnson (@Boris Johnson) 1645362068

The New York Times reported that it is unclear who passed the virus along to the queen.

The Times said, "The circumstances of the queen's infection remained clouded in questions. Charles was at Windsor Castle, where she is in residence, on Feb. 8 for an investiture ceremony," but did not conclude that the prince had passed the virus onto his mother as there has been an uptick in cases among those around the queen.

The queen contracting COVID-19 comes as the English government is preparing to stop requiring face masks to be worn in public places and COVID-19 passports will not be mandatory for large events, ABC News reported.

Johnson said, "We will trust the judgment of the British people and no longer criminalize anyone who chooses not to wear one."

These restrictions are reportedly being eased because government scientists believe that the omicron variant has peaked in the United Kingdom.

Government data indicates that more than 90% of British citizens over the age of 60 have received more than two doses of a COVID-19 vaccination. In most parts of the United Kingdom, infection rates are dropping.

In the spring of 2020, around the same time Prince Charles contracted COVID-19, Prime Minister Johnson was treated in an intensive care unit after falling ill to the virus.

Queen Elizabeth celebrated her Platinum Jubilee on Feb. 6. Having been on the throne for 70 years, Elizabeth II is the longest-reigning monarch in British history.

Paul Grover - WPA Pool/Getty

U.K., EU finally reach Brexit deal



After years of wrangling, the British government has finally announced a trade deal with the European Union that will govern the trade relationship between the U.K. and European mainland after Brexit.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the deal, which must still be ratified by the British parliament and the EU, on Twitter.


WATCH LIVE: My update on our future partnership with the European Union. https://t.co/cTd8qWRbrn
— Boris Johnson (@Boris Johnson)1608822573.0

Britain officially left the E.U. on January 1, 2020, after Brexit was approved by a voter referendum in June of 2016. Since the Brexit vote, the British government has been attempting — without success — to hammer out a trade deal with the European Union in order to avoid potentially disastrous trade consequences, including the imposition of tariffs and restrictions on the exportation of British goods to the European continent.

Although Britain officially left the EU in January, it has continued to operate under E.U. rules throughout 2020 while Boris Johnson's government attempted to hammer out an agreement with the EU.

Failure to successfully negotiate a deal that could be ratified by the British parliament ultimately doomed the government of former Prime Minister Theresa May, who resigned in June 2019, saying, "it it is now clear to me that it is in the best interests of the country for a new prime minister to lead [Brexit negotiations]."

Johnson's government led an aggressive negotiation which began in March and has continued almost continuously since. One of the last remaining obstacles to a deal was disagreement about EU fishing rights in U.K. waters, a thorny issue that threatened to derail the whole agreement even as late as this week.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised the deal in a statement, saying, "It has been a long and winding road but we have got a good deal to show for it. It is fair, it is a balanced deal and it is the right and responsible thing to do for both sides."

As a result of the deal, British MPs have been recalled to Parliament for an emergency session to read the deal and vote on it before the current agreement expires on December 31st. Most observers believe that the deal will pass the British parliament; however, its fate in the EU remains slightly more uncertain.

EU takes legal action against UK over Internal Market regs

The EU had decided to start a legal process against the UK government. The issue at stake is the Internal Market Bill, which the EU claims breaches international law.