UK PM pledges continued support for Ukraine ahead of Zelensky visit

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged to continue the country's "unwavering" support for Ukraine ahead of a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday. Zelensky will become the prime minister's first international visitor since he took office a week ago, which No 10 said "illustrates the strength of the relationship between the two nations."

During the visit, they will tour a naval base, where Burnham will announce the sharing of intellectual property behind the UK's new "Stone Cloak" electronic warfare system, enabling Ukraine to produce the technology at scale. The electronic jammers, about the size of a tablet computer, are designed to block detection of drones. The Ministry of Defence has already supplied thousands to Ukrainian forces to bolster drone operations.

Downing Street said the technology will be incorporated into the UK's next-generation long-range weapons, including Project Brakestop, a government programme to develop low-cost cruise missiles.

The two leaders will also meet over 200 Ukrainian military personnel who have spent the last three weeks taking part in Exercise Sea Breeze, a maritime exercise aimed at strengthening warfighting capabilities and counter-mine measures in the Black Sea.

Britain's backing of Ukraine has been constant since Russia's invasion four years ago, with £25bn committed in funding for the war effort. In one of his first calls after becoming prime minister last Monday, Burnham spoke to Zelensky and invited him to visit at the earliest opportunity.

Zelensky said he appreciated that support for Ukraine would remain steadfast. Burnham's predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer, visited Kyiv on his final full day as Labour leader, announcing fresh funding of £255m and receiving Ukraine's Order of Freedom. Asked about leadership changes, Zelensky admitted fear but stressed the priority is relations between nations, expressing hope that strong ties with the UK will endure.