Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskymet with the British Prime Minister on Monday Rishi SunakThat promised Delivering “hundreds” of anti-aircraft missiles and drones for long-range strikes to Ukraine so that it can defend itself against the Russian invasion.

Zelensky left for the UK early this morning, having visited Italy, Germany and France over the weekend and receiving new promises of military aid, at a time when Ukraine is preparing for a long-awaited counter-offensive against the forces of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Dressed in his trademark military attire, he found himself in Checkers, the country residence of the British Prime Ministers some 40 miles northwest of London, with Sunak greeting him with a big hug.

At the beginning of the meeting, Zelensky thanked the UK for supporting Ukraine since the Russian invasion in February 2022. “We are very grateful to you; From the Ukrainians, from our soldiers, thank you,” he said. Both leaders would talk about “urgent support for Ukraine,” he added.

At the meeting, Sunak would “confirm the UK’s additional delivery of hundreds of air defense missiles and more unmanned air systems, including hundreds of new attack drones with ranges in excess of 200km,” the UK government announced.

“They will all be delivered in the coming months as Ukraine prepares to intensify its resistance to the Russian invasion,” he said. Russia quickly lashed out at the decision.

“Britain aims to position itself at the forefront of countries that continue to fill Ukraine with weapons”, criticized Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov, who assured from Moscow that these deliveries will not have a major impact on the conflict, but will “cause even more destruction”.

The meeting in Checkers comes on the eve of a meeting of Council of Europe leaders in Iceland, which Zelensky will address virtually, and a G7 summit in Japan, Sunak stressed.

“This is a pivotal moment in Ukraine’s resistance to a terrible war of aggression that they did not choose or provoke,” he said in a statement ahead of the meeting. “We must not abandon them,” he added.

The UK last week became the first Western country to offer Ukraine long-range cruise missiles, the Storm Shadow missiles.