BORIS Johnson has made a surprise visit to Kyiv to mark Ukraine’s independence day.

The Prime Minister tweeted details of his journey on Wednesday afternoon, sharing a picture of himself standing alongside Volodymyr Zelensky.

“What happens in Ukraine matters to us all,” he said. “That is why I am in Kyiv today.” 

“That is why the UK will continue to stand with our Ukrainian friends. I believe Ukraine can and will win this war.”

The Tory leader - who has less than two weeks left in office after being ousted by his party - is seen as a hero in the country, thanks, in part, to his provision of military aid and his unwavering support of President Zelensky.

On Wednesday he was presented with the Order of Liberty, Ukraine's highest award for a foreign national.

"Our country is lucky to have such a friend!" the president wrote on his Telegram channel.

During the visit, Mr Johnson announced a £54 million package of support, including unmanned surveillance and missile systems, including 2,000 state-of-the-art drones and loitering munitions to enable Ukraine to better track and target invading Russian forces.

Mr Johnson said: “For the past six months, the United Kingdom has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine, supporting this sovereign country to defend itself from this barbaric and illegal invader.

“Today’s package of support will give the brave and resilient Ukrainian armed forces another boost in capability, allowing them to continue to push back Russian forces and fight for their freedom.

“What happens in Ukraine matters to us all, which is why I am here today to deliver the message that the United Kingdom is with you and will be with you for the days and months ahead, and you can and will win.”

He said that the surge in bills for people in the UK as a result of Russia's invasion was little compared to the sacrifices being made in Ukraine: “If we’re paying in our energy bills for the evils of Vladimir Putin, the people of Ukraine are paying in their blood,” he said.

He added that “out of the ashes of your towns and cities, out of the monstrous scars that are being left by Putin’s missiles, something beautiful is blooming and it is a flower that the whole world can see and admire, and that is the incomparable will of the Ukrainians to resist”.

Today marks 31 years since Ukraine left the Soviet Union, however, celebrations have been cancelled over fears Moscow could target crowds. 

READ MORE: Calls for Russian Consul General to be 'banished' from Edinburgh

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer marked the day by paying a visit to Ukrainian and British Army personnel at Salisbury Plain.

He said: “My mission, my message to the Ukrainian people, to our troops, our Nato allies, is that on the issue of defending Ukraine against Russian aggression, we stand united.

"We will not be divided politically in the United Kingdom on this and I’ve been able to deliver that message first-hand amongst this very, very impressive training.”

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon wrote to President Zelensky, to offer “Scotland’s continued solidarity with Ukraine and our admiration for your people’s bravery in the face of an unjust, unprovoked and illegal invasion.” 

She added: “Scotland has become a place of refuge and sanctuary for displaced people from Ukraine, and we have done all we can to get help to those fleeing their country to escape the violence brought on by Russia’s unprovoked invasion.

“Scotland has been honoured to offer safety to Ukrainians who have had to leave their homes in what is tragically the largest displacement of people in Europe since World War II.

"We recognise that displaced people from Ukraine will want to return to their homeland when it is safe to do so, but Scotland stands willing to provide them with sanctuary for as long as they need.” 

“On your Independence Day, and always, Scotland stands in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and your continued efforts to uphold that independence,” she added. 

Meanwhile, defence secretary Ben Wallace has said an outright ban on Russians entering the UK may not be the "right way" to punish Moscow. 

His comments come as Finland, Estonia and the Czech Republic have called for Brussels to implement an EU-wide ban on new tourist visas for Russians to enter the Schengen free travel.

President Zelensky had first urged the visa ban in an interview with the Washington Post earlier this month, saying Russians should “live in their own world until they change their philosophy”.

Speaking to the BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Mr Wallace said: “I certainly think we can toughen up the conditions of our visas. I am not sure whether an outright ban is the right way.

“I think that’s a matter for the Home Secretary to look at. But I don’t like, and I’m sure none of your listeners like, watching oligarchs’ wives or indeed Russian senior officials’ wives enjoying themselves in Greece or the south of France, or on super yachts around the world while their army is committing war crimes in Ukraine.

“I think that is very wrong. I think the problem has been all the way back to 2014, that Russia invaded Crimea, illegally annexed it, and then it was allowed in some countries to carry on as if nothing had really changed.”

Despite the war in Ukraine reaching its sixth month and fears the West might be losing interest, the Defence Secretary appeared optimistic.

On the EU’s resolve, Mr Wallace said: “I mean, the EU doesn’t always, you know, can’t even often decide on some of the most basic pan-European initiatives, whether that’s environmental standards, that’s just the way it is.

“But I think that’s why the Commission is there to do that work. But I don’t see any waning.

“There’s always a few disagreements about the levels of sanctions, but, fundamentally, the international community is united against what Putin is doing.”