Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s iconic fleece sells for £90,000 at auction in London

The war leader’s now-iconic outerwear fetched £90,000 at a Christie’s sale at Tate Modern attended by Boris Johnson, as part of a program to raise up to £1million for Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s iconic fleece jacket has sold for £90,000 in a fundraiser for the country devastated by the Russian invasion.

As Ukraine struggles against the greater military strength and resources at Vladimir Putin’s disposal, auctions have been held to raise money for her cause.

Christie’s is part of an international program aiming to raise up to £1million.

Boris Johnson tried to encourage bidding at the auction for Mr Zelensky’s now-famous khaki fleece at the London auction, where the starting price was set at £50,000.

The Prime Minister called it a “snip” as he motivated people at the Christie’s auction at the Tate Modern.

Mr Zelensky was regularly seen giving updates on video calls from Kyiv in his military uniform and defying threats from Russian forces.

He also spoke to the House of Commons from Kyiv, asking for support from Britain as he described it as Ukraine’s hour of need and likened it to the Battle of Britain and Blitz during World War II.

Speaking via video link before the start of the tender at the Brave Ukraine fundraiser, Mr Zelensky spoke about the “brave Boris” who had come to see him in Kyiv.

There were other items up for auction at the property, including a jar of chicken given to Mr Johnson during his visit to the Ukrainian capital.

There was also a guided tour of Kyiv by Mayor and former heavyweight boxing champion Vitali Klitschko.

Mr Johnson said: “Whether you’re bidding on Volodymyr’s fleece – a bargain of £50,000, I want to bid much higher than that, or you’re bidding on a tour of Kyiv with Mayor Klitschko, I’ve had a tour of Kyiv with Mayor Klitschko , it is a beautiful city. It’s worth digging deep.

“Tonight support Ukraine my friends so that the great old European capital of Kyiv will never be threatened again and Ukraine can be whole and free again.”

It comes as US President Joe Biden on Friday signed a $150 million arms package for Ukraine that provided additional artillery ammunition, radar and other equipment in a series of transfers to help Kyiv repel Russian invasion help.

Biden and other Western leaders plan to video call Zelenskyy on Sunday, the White House said, to demonstrate unity.

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The UN Security Council – including Russia – expressed “deep concern” over the situation in Ukraine, its first statement since the February 24 invasion.

The heaviest sanctions ever imposed on a major power have pushed Russia’s $1.8 trillion economy into its biggest contraction since the years following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

The European Union has proposed further measures.

But the new sanctions package, which includes an oil embargo, has met with some opposition, with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban likening it to a “nuclear bomb” dropped on the economy.