British Embassy in Kyiv to reopen next week, announces Boris Johnson

The British Embassy in Kyiv is to be reopened next week, Boris Johnson has announced.

It comes after the Prime Minister met with President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Ukrainian capital earlier this month.

The embassy was initially moved to the western city of Lviv in February shortly before the Russian invasion began.

Foreign secretary Liz Truss then announced in early March that ambassador Melinda Simmons had left the country altogether due to the “serious security situation”.

Johnson made the announcement of the return at a press conference in New Delhi where he has been holding talks with Indian prime minister Narendra Modi.

Asked if he agreed with intelligence that the Russian bombardment could continue to the end of next year, and with Russian victory, Johnson said it was, sadly, a “realistic possibility”.

He said: “(Vladimir) Putin has a huge army. He has a very difficult political position because he’s made a catastrophic blunder.

“The only option he now has, really, is to continue to try to use his appalling, grinding approach driven by artillery, trying to grind the Ukrainians down.”

“I think no matter what military superiority Vladimir Putin may be able to bring to bear in the next few months, and I agree it could be a long period, he will not be able to conquer the spirit of the Ukrainian people.”

Johnson said he was “all in favour” of ministers heading to the British embassy in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv when it reopens next month.