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Vitali Klitschko has issued a nuclear warning to the world as the war in Ukraine nears its one-year anniversary.
In an interview with Canadian news channel CTV, the Kyiv mayor and former world boxing champion urged people not to forget what’s going on in his country.
He warned it would be a ‘huge mistake’ to think Putin’s invasion does not affect people outside his wartorn country.
‘Please don’t forget, we’re talking about nuclear weapons,’ he said.
‘An explosion could touch everyone on our planet, and that is why we have to do everything we can to stop this war.’
Meanwhile, Rishi Sunak has said the UK ‘stands ready’ to support allies who can provide Ukraine with fighter jets.
The UK has refused to commit to handing RAF jets to President Zelensky’s forces, with the Prime Minister only saying he has not ruled it out.
Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko (L) and his brother Wladimir Klitschko (Picture: EPA)
But Mr Sunak said he would back nations who are in a position to supply war planes with immediate effect to Ukraine.
He told broadcasters in Germany: ‘We will happily provide assistance to any country that is able to provide Ukraine with fighter jets right now.
‘The UK stands ready to support those countries as well.’
Downing Street used a visit by Mr Zelensky to Britain last week to announce the Ministry of Defence would train Ukrainian pilots on Nato-standard aircraft.
Despite No 10 opening the door to potentially sending jets to Kyiv, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has said the move could be years away, if it happens at all.
Rishi Sunak spent the weekend pledging his support for Ukraine (Picture: Reuters)
Some experts have suggested RAF aircraft are ill-equipped for the warfare in Eastern Europe. And any deal would also have to be signed off by other countries.
Polish aircraft, more similar to Ukrainian jets, could be used in combat sooner than British planes.
Polish PM Mateusz Morawiecki said he wanted to discuss transferring its Soviet-era MiG fighter jets, as part of a wider coalition led by the US.
Mr Sunak, asked whether he had spoken to Mr Morawiecki about providing his MiGs to Ukraine, said: ‘What I’ve done is said to all allies that we stand ready to support them if they can provide fighter jets for Ukraine now.’
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‘Please don’t forget, we’re talking about nuclear weapons,’ Vitali Klitschko said.
