King Charles III’s week began with a military visit.
On Monday morning, the 74-year-old monarch traveled to Wiltshire, England, to meet Ukrainian military recruits spending five weeks training with the British Army and international partner forces in the U.K. The recruits are enrolled in 35 days of basic combat training and will return to fight in Ukraine amid thewar with Russia.
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“You are amazing, I don’t know how you do it. I am full of admiration,” King Charles told a senior officer shortly after he arrived, according toThe Independent.
The King watched a short training exercise and shook hands with the soldiers, sharing thehongiwith a man from New Zealand. The hongi is atraditional Māori greetingin which two people press their noses and foreheads together.
The Ukrainian recruits hail from diverse professional backgrounds and range in age. Most of the trainees had limited or no military experience before this point, though some have already seen combat on the front lines.
Though the British royals traditionally avoid voicing political opinions, the family has shared support for Ukraine amid the ongoing invasion. King Charles met PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyyforthe first timelast week, welcoming the Ukrainian leader for a brief meeting at Buckingham Palace.
“We’ve all been worried about you and thinking about your country for so long, I can’t tell you,” King Charles told Zelenskyy, 45.
The two menspoke privatelyfor about 30 minutes in the 1844 Room about the continuing conflict and the part Britain has played in supporting the war-torn country. The visit came during Zelenskyy’s surprise visit to the U.K., a trip made to thank Britain for its support and meet with troops training there.
Zelenskyy spoke in the House of Parliament before connecting with King Charles and told lawmakers that it would be “a truly special moment” when he met the King.
“In Britain, the King is an air force pilot — and in Ukraine today, every air force pilot is a king,” Zelenskyy said, referencing Charles' service in the Royal Air Force, according to theBBC.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy with King Charles III.Aaron Chown/Getty
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Zelenskyy said that the U.K. “is marching with us to the most important victory of our lifetime,” the BBC reported. “After we win together, any aggressor will know what awaits him if he attacks international order,” he said.
More than 7 million have fled the country as refugees — and half are children,according to the United Nations. Millions more have been displaced inside Ukraine.
source: people.com
