Rishi Sunak wife Akshata Murty welcomes Volodymyr Zelensky's wife Olena at No10

29 February 2024 , 17:52

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Rishi Sunak's wife Akshata Murty welcomed Ukraine's first lady Olena Zelenska to Downing Street (Image: PA)

Ukraine's first lady, Olena Zelenska, has been welcomed to Downing Street by Akshata Murty, the wife of Rishi Sunak.

Mrs Murty greeted the wife of Volodymyr Zelensky with a smile at the door to No10 as they met on Thursday. After embracing, the pair turned to the cameras, held hands and waved before turning to enter No 10.

The two women enjoyed tea together in Downing Street, as well as visited the Centre for Blast Injury Studies at Imperial College London. The pair last met outside No10 Downing Street on May 4 2023, during a visit which saw Mrs Zelenska attend the coronation of the King at Westminster Abbey.

It came as last Saturday marked the two-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine's president Mr Zelensky vowed that his country will win against Putin's invasion. In a speech in the capital Kyiv, he said: "None of us will allow our Ukraine to end.

The two women entered as GB and Ukrainian flags were put up behind them (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

The pair shared a pot of tea and cakes together (Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Str)

"That's why, to the words 'end of the war', we always add 'on our terms'. That's why the word 'peace' always goes with 'fair'. We are fighting for it. For 730 days of our lives already. And we will win on the best day of our life."

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Kyiv officials said on Thursday that Russian forces are pushing hard against more Ukrainian towns and villages in eastern and southeastern Ukraine as Moscow tries to press its current advantage in weapons and troops. Despite Russia’s apparent offensive momentum on the ground, Ukraine said it has shot down more than a dozen Russian warplanes this month, including three on Thursday, as the Kremlin’s forces pushed forward.

They visited the Centre for Blast Injury Studies at Imperial College London (Simon Walker / No 10 Downing Street)

Mr Zelensky confirmed that 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in action in the two years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion. “31,000 Ukrainian military personnel have been killed in this war. Not 300,000, not 150,000, not whatever Putin and his deceitful circle have been lying about. But nevertheless, each of these losses is a great sacrifice for us," Mr Zelensky said at the weekend.

The Ukrainian leader said that he wouldn't disclose the number of troops that were wounded or missing. It is the first time that Kyiv has confirmed the number of its losses since Moscow started the full-scale invasion on February 24 2022.

Sophie Huskisson