Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Portsmouth today, praising the United Kingdom’s steady support for Ukraine and using the Royal Navy’s flagship as the setting for talks about maritime cooperation.
Meeting aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth
A Guard of Honour on the jetty welcomed the president before he and the UK leader boarded the aircraft carrier. The meeting took place under the watch of senior naval figures, with First Sea Lord General Sir Gwyn Jenkins and the ship’s Commanding Officer, Captain Claire Thompson, hosting the discussions.
“We value that we can always count on Britain’s principled decisions, leadership, and support. Thank you, Britain.”
The comment, made by Mr Zelenskyy, underlined his view that relations between London and Kyiv have deepened since Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.
Focus on maritime support and training
Officials used the visit to highlight the Royal Navy’s role in building Ukrainian naval resilience. The First Sea Lord said that the UK, working through the Maritime Capability Coalition alongside Norway, has been central to providing practical assistance — from mine countermeasures to training for Ukrainian marines.
One specific British contribution spotlighted during the visit was training delivered under Operation Interflex, through which more than 200 sailors have been instructed to operate five minehunters over the last three years. Those vessels have been operating from Portsmouth.
- Training: over 200 sailors trained to operate minehunters
- Ships: five minehunters empowered by UK-led training
- Coalition: Maritime Capability Coalition led by the UK and Norway
The Royal Navy also confirmed that two former Sandown-class ships, HMS Grimsby and HMS Shoreham, have been donated to support Ukraine’s maritime needs.
Local implications for Portsmouth
The visit underlines Portsmouth’s continuing role as a base for UK naval operations that have international significance. Personnel based in the city have been directly involved in training and operating the vessels referenced by visiting officials. The presence of the carrier and senior leaders signals Portsmouth’s continuing importance as a hub for defence partnerships and cooperative work with allied navies.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location of meeting | HMS Queen Elizabeth, Portsmouth |
| Training programme | Operation Interflex — minehunter training |
| Personnel trained | More than 200 sailors |
| Vessels involved | Five minehunters; former Sandown-class ships (Grimsby, Shoreham) |
The visit also offered a public demonstration of the close military-to-military links that the UK says it has developed with Ukraine since the conflict began. For residents of Portsmouth, the engagement underscores how local defence infrastructure and personnel contribute to broader national policy and international security efforts.
Reporting from HMS Queen Elizabeth highlights the role Portsmouth continues to play in shaping and supporting maritime responses to the conflict in Ukraine, and the political significance attached to such visits by world leaders.
