During the visit to London on 25–26 June, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Olexandr Mischenko held political consultations with Stephen Doughty, Minister of State of the United Kingdom for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories. The parties discussed the security situation in Ukraine and globally, sanctions pressure on the aggressor state, coordination within international organisations, and legal mechanisms for holding the Russian Federation accountable for war crimes committed.
Deputy Minister Mischenko also held talks with the UK Minister for the Armed Forces Luke Pollard, Commander of the Joint Expeditionary Force General Thomas Bateman, and Director for Europe and Canada at the UK Ministry of Defence Sebastian Carr. The discussions addressed further expansion of bilateral defence cooperation, the UK's participation in the Maritime Capability and Drone Coalitions, and collaboration within the framework of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF).
Particular attention was paid to the implementation of Ukraine’s enhanced partner status in JEF, which opens new opportunities for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, including participation in joint exercises, experience exchange, development of military medicine, and integration into joint defence initiatives. Ukraine plans to join the implementation of the first joint projects by the end of this year.
As part of interparliamentary engagement, Olexandr Mischenko met with members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Ukraine, led by Alex Sobel, MPs Helen Maguire and Calum Miller of the Liberal Democrats, and Conservative MP Mark Pritchard. The discussions focused on strengthening bilateral and multilateral cooperation at the parliamentary level, enhancing sanctions policy against the Russian Federation, supporting military-technical cooperation, ensuring international legal accountability for the aggressor, and returning Ukrainian children abducted by Russia.
During the visit, Olexandr Mischenko, together with Minister Stephen Doughty and Ambassador of Ukraine to the United Kingdom Valerii Zaluzhnyi, marked Crimean Tatar Flag Day. The Ukrainian side emphasised the importance of maintaining international attention to the de-occupation of Crimea and the protection of the rights of its indigenous people — the Crimean Tatars.
Deputy Minister Mischenko also visited the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Family in London, where he met with Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski. They discussed the activities of the Ukrainian Support Centre operating at the cathedral, which provides comprehensive assistance to Ukrainian citizens who were forced to flee their homes due to Russian aggression.
The visit reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s strong, consistent, and comprehensive support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression. The strategic partnership between Ukraine and the United Kingdom, reinforced by the provisions of the One Hundred Year Partnership Agreement, serves as a solid foundation for building shared security, strengthening the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and bringing our joint victory closer.
The consultations took place in the context of implementing the provisions of the One Hundred Year Partnership Agreement between Ukraine and the United Kingdom, which outlines long-term strategic cooperation priorities in the areas of security, economy, defence industry, digital technologies, and humanitarian support. They were dedicated to the implementation of the agreements reached on 23 June during the talks between President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the senior leadership of the United Kingdom.