Kyiv:

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a visit to Kyiv on Saturday, an aide to the Ukrainian leader said.

“Boris Johnson’s visit to Kyiv has just started with a one-on-one meeting with President Zelensky,” presidential aide Andriy Sybiha posted on Facebook, posting a photo of the couple.

The photograph showed the couple seated opposite each other in a large room. Johnson wore a dark suit and Zelensky a khaki jumpsuit, his signature attire during public appearances since Russia invaded Ukraine in late February.

Surprised 😉 pic.twitter.com/AWa5RjYosD

— Embassy of Ukraine in the UK (@UkrEmbLondon) April 9, 2022

“The UK is the leader in defense support for Ukraine,” Sybiha wrote.

Sybiha described Johnson as “the leader of the anti-war coalition. The leader of sanctions against the Russian aggressor.”

Johnson’s visit to the Ukrainian capital followed trips to Kyiv by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Friday and Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer’s visit earlier on Saturday .

Johnson’s Downing Street office said he was in Ukraine for a “show of solidarity” with the people of the country.

The European visits come after Ukraine pushed back Russian troops from the kyiv region late last month.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)