Ukrainian President Signs Deal With UK During Visit

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson (R) and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gesture during their meeting inside number 10 Downing Street, in central London, on Oct. 8, 2020. (Aaron Chown/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

The UK’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday signed an agreement with visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, securing a trade partnership after the Brexit transitional period, and strengthening the two countries’ cooperation in political, security, and foreign matters, the UK government said.

The Agreement “delivers the same level of liberalisation in trade, services, and public procurement that businesses currently enjoy under the existing EU-Ukraine Association Agreement,” a statement says.

The deal also “underlines the UK’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the statement says, “as well as both countries’ commitment to strengthening democracy and human rights and deepening the security relationship.”

While Johnson and Zelenskyy met before signing the deal, they discussed working together against “Russia’s malign influence, both in Ukraine and in the wider region,” a Downing Street spokesman said.

“The UK is Ukraine’s most fervent supporter. Whether it’s our defence support, stabilisation efforts, humanitarian assistance, or close cooperation on political issues,” Johnson said in a statement, “our message is clear: we are utterly committed to upholding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.”

The two leaders also talked about the situation in Belarus.