UK PM Andy Burnham Reaffirms Support for Ukraine Ahead of Zelensky Visit

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged Britain’s continued and “unwavering” support for Ukraine ahead of a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday.

Zelensky will become Burnham’s first international visitor since taking office a week ago, a move Downing Street said reflects the strong relationship between the United Kingdom and Ukraine.

During the visit, the two leaders will tour a naval base where Burnham is expected to announce that the UK will share the intellectual property behind its new “Stone Cloak” electronic warfare system, allowing Ukraine to manufacture the technology on a larger scale.

Burnham said Britain would continue standing “shoulder to shoulder” with Ukraine and vowed not to back down until a lasting and just peace is achieved.

The Stone Cloak system consists of tablet-sized electronic jammers designed to block enemy drones from being detected. The UK Ministry of Defence has already supplied thousands of the devices to Ukrainian forces to strengthen their drone capabilities.

The British government also announced that the technology will be incorporated into its next generation of long-range weapons, including Project Brakestop, a programme developing low-cost cruise missiles.

As part of the visit, Burnham and Zelensky will also meet more than 200 Ukrainian military personnel who have spent the past three weeks in the UK participating in Exercise Sea Breeze, a maritime training programme focused on strengthening combat readiness and counter-mine operations in the Black Sea.

Britain has remained one of Ukraine’s strongest allies since Russia’s invasion four years ago and has committed £25 billion in military and financial support.

Following his appointment as prime minister, Burnham held an early phone call with Zelensky and invited him to visit the UK at the earliest opportunity.

In response, Zelensky expressed gratitude for Britain’s continued backing, saying he appreciated the UK’s commitment to supporting Ukraine and its people throughout the conflict.