Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy is in London meeting British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday, marking his first visit to the U.K. since the war began.
The visit comes at a difficult time for Ukraine as it prepares for an expected large-scale offensive by Russian forces, and as its military looks to retain control of Bakhmut in Donetsk, east Ukraine.
Russian and Ukrainian forces have been battling for control over the city for months but Russia recently claimed that it has almost encircled the city, and on Wednesday one military commander said Russian troops now occupy several streets in the city.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived at Paris Orly Airport in France and was greeted by the Minister of the French Army Sebastien Lecornu.
Zelenskyy is slated to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron as well as German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the Elysee Palace.
Earlier in the day, Zelenskyy made a surprise visit to the United Kingdom and met with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and King Charles III.
Ahead of this trip, Zelenskyy had previously only left his war-weary country once before since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine nearly a year ago.