Putin also accused the US of “dragging” Russia into a dangerous arms race and NATO of pushing the world closer to the “use of nuclear weapons” with suggestions Western soldiers may be deployed in Ukraine.
This isn’t the first time Ms Zelenska and the Queen cross paths. In November 2022, the Ukrainian First Lady headed to Buckingham Palace to attend a reception hosted by Camilla to raise awareness of violence against women.
Ms Zelenska was also a guest at the Coronation of the King and Queen in May, representing her war-torn nation at the historic event alongside Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.
Ms Zelenska and Mr Zelensky had held another key meeting with royals – the Prince and Princess of Wales – in October 2020, months before the Russian invasion began in their country.
At the time, the presidential couple were undertaking a two-day visit to the UK, and their meeting had marked the first official audience held at Buckingham Palace since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.
