Burnham to pledge UK help for Ukraine's long-range missile production
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham will travel to Kyiv on his first foreign trip, promising to help Ukraine build its own long-range missiles. The visit comes as Russia prepares fresh missile strikes and President Zelenskyy faces mounting domestic political pressure.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham will arrive in Kyiv on Monday for his first foreign visit since taking office, timed to coincide with Ukraine's independence day. The trip comes as Kyiv braces for another wave of Russian missile strikes, while President Volodymyr Zelenskyy faces the most serious domestic political challenge of his presidency.
Burnham will announce that the UK government will allow European defence firm MBDA to declassify information about UK-made components of the Anglo-French Storm Shadow/Scalp missiles, helping Ukraine develop its own version. While the move is unlikely to affect the war for years, it could raise tensions with Moscow at an already difficult moment.
In a Sunday night statement, Burnham said the UK stands behind Ukraine "today and for as long as it takes," stressing that Ukraine's security is also Britain's security.
Burnham will also announce that the UK will help France establish assembly lines for long-range missiles inside Ukraine, fulfilling a pledge French President Emmanuel Macron made last month. Macron spoke with Zelenskyy on Saturday and promised to deliver separate interceptor missiles to help counter recent high-speed Russian missile barrages on Kyiv.
Reaction to the Kryvyi Rih attack
European leaders condemned Friday's drone strike on a shopping centre in Kryvyi Rih, Zelenskyy's home town, which killed 16 people.
Ukraine's military has run out of US-made Patriot interceptors, and US President Donald Trump recently backtracked on a promise to let Ukraine manufacture its own. Still, Zelenskyy said he wants to buy more Patriots, saying Ukraine is willing to pay for them. He said 360 missiles are needed for the winter, and noted agreements reached with France and Germany on additional air-defence supplies.
Tensions between the UK and Russia have risen recently — last week Moscow accused London of escalating the conflict by allowing Ukraine to strike with British-made drones, and this weekend it emerged that Russia had withdrawn its ambassador from London without naming a replacement.
On Monday, Burnham will also join a meeting of the 34-nation "coalition of the willing," alongside Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, to discuss support for Ukraine against the recent wave of long-range attacks. During the visit, Burnham will attend independence day events, details of which are being kept secret for security reasons, and will receive an award recognising UK support for Ukraine.
Zelenskyy has recently commented publicly for the first time on former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov's call for elections, warning that holding a vote during wartime risks splitting the country.
