of a large number of explosions. air raid sirens have sounded across the country. video footage on circulating on social media which have not been verified by the bbc show air defence systems shooting down missiles. government messages have warned people to keep away from windows as debris from intercepted missiles is falling from the sky. the mayor of kyiv, vitali klitschko, says some of the debris has fallen on the city s zoo. that comes as on monday, ukrainian president volodymyr zelensky made made a surprise visit to the united kingdom to secure fresh promises of military aid to fight russia s invasion. uk prime minister rishi sunak welcomed the ukrainian leader at chequers, the prime minister s country house. they held bilateral talks lasting around two hours. president zelensky said they discussed western nations providing kyiv with fighter jets, with the aim of creating what he called a jets coalition . prime minister sunak promised to send hundreds of air defence mis
counteroffensive we expect to see from ukraine. think the state of play between russia and ukraine is about to change? yes, that has to be the great hope. we ve seen a difficult winter for both countries in this conflict. i think it s been particularly difficult for the russian soldiers, many of whom were pretty much conscripted off the streets, poorly trained, poorly equipped, and had a miserable winter. whereas the ukrainians who have got the moral right on their side and a fifth determination to win have been increasingly equipped by improved western equipment, much western training of ukrainian soldiers, 15,000 ukrainians have been trained in the united kingdom over the last 12 months, much military advice being made available to them, so what we will see in them, so what we will see in the coming few days, weeks, months, but we ve more like
that s a very good question and why we had to really hope and pray. why we had to really hope and ra . ~ ., , ., , pray. ukraine will prevail this ear. if pray. ukraine will prevail this year- if they pray. ukraine will prevail this year. if they don t, pray. ukraine will prevail this year. if they don t, it ll- pray. ukraine will prevail this year. if they don t, it ll be . year. if they don t, it ll be very difficult for them mount another counteroffensive of the same dimensions as this musso that s the potential future narrative of a war that effectively goes into deep freeze for quite some time. the critical point is that that runs the risk of breast and support and enthusiasm waiting for support of ukraine and that place to putin potluck agenda and where he thinks he might come out on top so it is critical also support we give them, or encouragement we give training and ammunition, weapons and the rest of it means ukrainians can prevail in a decisive way on the battlefield th
days and weeks, a concerted counteroffensive by the ukrainians, buti counteroffensive by the ukrainians, but i think there is a very good chance that this will decisively change the fortunes on the battlefield and ukrainian s favour. fortunes on the battlefield and ukrainian s favour. fortunes on the battlefield and ukrainian s favour. that s what they must ukrainian s favour. that s what they must achieve. ukrainian s favour. that s what they must achieve. let s - ukrainian s favour. that s what they must achieve. let s look. they must achieve. let s look at the perspective in the uk itself. some critics on the right wing of the prime minister bob loughman parties they complained they want him to be more like borisjohnson, his predecessor, as you mentioned. how important you think this is it was for rishi sunak politically? sunak politically? you only have to see sunak politically? you only have to see the sunak politically? you only have to see the body - sunak politically?
to ukraine, then a long debate about air defence systems, and now a long debate about fighter jets. ukraine says those delays are costing lives, not only on the front lines, but all across the country. now, the timing of president zelensky s visit is very significant. ukraine is preparing a counteroffensive against russian forces. it knows it needs to achieve major gains. it wants to show western countries that all the assistance it has received can result in major victories on the battlefield. president zelensky says his country still doesn t have everything it needs to launch what is likely to be a crucial phase in the war. earlier i spoke to lord dannat, former head of the british army, about the significance of the ukrainian president s visit to the uk. lord dannat, it s great to have you in the programme. let s start with the ukrainian president zelensky was no surprise that the uk. we know the uk has been one of the