Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a surprise trip to Kyiv on Sunday, meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyi and pledging that Britain “will support Ukraine as long as it takes,” Reuters reported.

Johnson, who left office in September amid a series of scandals, was prime minister when Russia invaded Ukraine last February and has sought to position London as Kyiv’s main ally in the West.

During his trip, Johnson visited Borodyanka and Bucha, suburbs of the Ukrainian capital that have become symbols of atrocities committed by Russian forces during the first phase of the invasion.

“I can tell you that Great Britain will support Ukraine as long as it takes,” Johnson told Mayor Buchi.

“You will win and you will drive all the Russians out of your country, but we will be there for a long time. And we also want to help you rebuild,” he said. said

Johnson rejected suggestions that his work in Ukraine could be seen as undermining British Prime Minister Ruisha Sunak.

In Buchi, Johnson took a selfie with residents and laid flowers in memory of the war victims. He visited the church to see the exhibition and autographed a copy of his book on Winston Churchill for the priest.

In Borodyanka, he walked the streets, past the residential blocks destroyed by Russian bombings. Kyiv Oblast Governor Oleksiy Kuleba, who accompanied him, said 162 residents were killed during Russia’s month-long occupation of the city last year. Kuleba said about 60 percent of residents have returned.

In Kyiv, Johnson was met personally by Zelenskyi and a long line of high-ranking officials, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the head of the presidential administration.

In Ukraine, Boris Johnson is treated as a hero

All the gratitude of Ukrainians to Boris Johnson seems to be contained in the message of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine regarding the arrival of the ex-prime minister of Great Britain in Ukraine.

• “Such friends are more valuable than a squadron of tanks. We are glad to welcome Boris Johnson to Ukraine. A person who was with the Ukrainian people from the first day”

During his tenure, Johnson visited Kyiv several times and often called Zelenskyi.

After getting into scandals in Britain, he gained wide popularity in Ukraine, where he was called “Boris Johnsonyuk”.

Kyiv cafes named their cakes after him, his image is also present in street art.

Johnson became an honorary citizen of Kyiv, and last week in Davos he received the “Kyyanin” medal from the mayor of the city Vitaliy Klitschko.

It is also said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi told Boris Johnson that he is a hero and that “everyone loves you.”

Last week, Great Britain announced that it would supply Ukraine with 14 Challenger 2 tanks and other heavy weapons.