Boris Johnson

Speaking on the plane on his way to the world's second-most populous country, Johnson signalled he was ready to be more accommodating on an issue that could have stalled the talks.

The prime minister was speaking as he headed to India, where he will encourage his counterpart Narendra Modi to end its neutrality over the war in Ukraine. He played down the likelihood that India would end its longstanding ties with Russia.

Downing Street has stressed that the UK would not look to "lecture" India over its neutral stance in the United Nations or its decision to hike Russian oil imports.

Discussions have ended on four of the 26 chapters in the proposed India-UK trade pact. The UK's insistence on allowing high-value British goods such as scotch whiskey and automobiles into India at zero or low tariffs, and India's focus on services trade have slowed talks.

My visit to India will deliver on the things that really matter to the people of both our nations from job creation and economic growth, to energy security and defence, said Johnson, ahead of the visit.

Johnson will head to India on Thursday with calls for his resignation ringing in his ears after he was fined for breaking his own COVID-19 lockdown rules by attending a birthday party for him in Downing Street in June 2020

Moscow banned the UK PM's entry after London imposed sanctions on Russia over its military operation in Ukraine.

The visit next week, which is yet to be formally announced by Downing Street, follows the successful completion of four out of 26 chapters in the ongoing India-UK free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations.

The online poll of 2,145 U.K. adults was conducted April 8-10, before both the chancellor and Johnson were fined by police for breaking the coronavirus rules their own government made.

Embattled finance minister Rishi Sunak and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's wife Carrie will also be fined, as the political storm following revelations of a swathe of lockdown-busting parties in and around Downing Street threatens to engulf Johnson once more.

The “partygate” scandal has angered many in Britain and seen dozens of politicians and officials investigated over allegations that the government flouted its own pandemic restrictions.

The appointment of the general, Alexander Dvornikov, as the top battlefield commander came as Britain announced that it was sending missiles that target aircraft, tanks and even ships, and as Slovakia handed the Ukrainian military a long-range S-300 air defense system.

Their plan is to “accelerate development of advanced hypersonic and counter-hypersonic capabilities,” according to a joint statement

The visit, which is expected around April 22, is long overdue after Johnson was forced to cancel planned visits to India twice last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

At an unprecedented triple summit in Brussels, transatlantic alliance NATO, G7 rich nations and European leaders addressed the continent's worst conflict since the 1990s Balkans wars.

In their telephonic talk, Modi reiterated India's consistent appeal for cessation of hostilities and a return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy to defuse the crisis following Russia's attack on Ukraine.

Russia-Ukraine war: The British prime minister said at a Conservative Party event that it is "the instinct of the people of this country, like the people of Ukraine, to choose freedom every time”, citing the 2016 Brexit referendum as a recent example.

Boris Johnson is scheduled to meet with leaders in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh for talks on energy, regional security and humanitarian relief as part of what Downing Street described as the UK's efforts to galvanise global action on the crisis in Ukraine.

Officials have not confirmed details about the visit to Saudi Arabia, but British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will reportedly meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman this week in the hope the Gulf state can increase its production of fuel supplies.

Boris Johnson says Britain will raise the issue immediately with Russia and close partners.