Britain is to reopen its embassy in Kyiv thanks to the “extraordinary fortitude and success” of Ukraine in resisting Russian forces, Boris Johnson has announced.
The prime minister made the commitment, described as a show of support for the country and its people, at a news conference during his trip to India.
Britain moved its embassy away from the Ukrainian capital in February before Russia invaded the country.
Vladimir Putin’s forces have been thwarted in their attempts to take the city and have now switched focus to the east of the country.
Mr Johnson travelled to Kyiv to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier this month, praising his “resolute leadership”.
The prime minister’s announcement comes a day after Spain said it would reopen its embassy in Kyiv.
Speaking in New Delhi, Mr Johnson said: “The extraordinary fortitude and the success of President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people in resisting Russian forces in Kyiv means that I can announce today that we will very shortly – next week – reopen our embassy in Ukraine’s capital city.
“I want to pay tribute to those British diplomats who remained elsewhere in the region throughout this period.
“The United Kingdom and our allies will not watch passively as Putin carries on this onslaught.”
Mr Johnson said he was “deeply concerned about the barbarism that we’ve seen” in Ukraine and its new focus in the Donbas region of the country.
Image: Mr Johnson met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a trip to Kyiv earlier this month
The prime minister acknowledged the “unpredictable” nature of the conflict and the “realistic possibility” Mr Putin could still win.
But he added: “He will not be able to conquer the spirit of the Ukrainian people.”
Mr Johnson set out some of the details of the military support to Russia and economic sanctions being applied to Russia, and called for continuing “wave after wave of intensifying pressure on Putin”.
