Pres Zelensky To Hold Presser w/ UK PM At 1900 Local Time

President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to hold a press conference at around 1900 local time (1200ET, 1700GMT, 1800CET) alongside UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who becomes the first major western leader to visit Ukraine since the significant uptick in tensions along the Russian border.

• Before travelling to Ukraine, Johnson stated that “It is the right of every Ukrainian to determine how they are governed. As a friend and a democratic partner, the UK will continue to uphold Ukraine’s sovereignty in the face of those who seek to destroy it. We urge Russia to step back and engage in dialogue to find a diplomatic resolution and avoid further bloodshed.”
• Johnson was due to hold a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin last night, but this was cancelled with the UK PM having to meet with his Conservative Party MPs in order to try and stave off a leadership challenge.
• Instead, Putin held a call with French President Emmanuel Macron. The NYT has noted Macron's more nuanced stance on Russia compared to Johnson's full-throated support for the Ukrainian gov't, stating that "With the retirement of the German leader Angela Merkel, Mr. Macron has sought to position himself as Europe’s chief voice in international affairs, casting himself as a NATO ally who is independent of Washington and has open channels to US adversaries."