Andy Burnham to meet Zelenskyy at UK naval base in show of ‘unwavering’ support
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham will host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday at a naval base where Ukrainian forces train, reaffirming Britain's steadfast military and technical assistance.
Andy Burnham will receive his first foreign visitor as prime minister on Monday when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy joins him at a UK naval base used for training Ukrainian forces. The visit comes less than two weeks after former PM Keir Starmer travelled to Kyiv for his final overseas trip in office.
Burnham spoke with Zelenskyy by phone last week upon entering No. 10 and has pledged to maintain Starmer's strong backing for Ukraine against Russia's invasion. At the base, the two leaders will meet Ukrainian and British personnel who took part in Exercise Sea Breeze, a 15-nation training focused on mine clearance and maritime operations in the Black Sea. The second phase of this year's exercise, held in Portland, Dorset, ended Friday and involved over 200 Ukrainian troops.
Discussions will cover joint projects including Stone Cloak, an electronic jammer for which the UK shared intellectual property, enabling immediate use by Ukraine. Thousands of jammer devices, each about the size of a tablet, have been sent to Ukraine for drone integration to disrupt Russian air defence systems. Ukraine can now mass-produce the jammers itself. After initial deployment in Ukraine, the devices will be fitted to new UK weaponry, including cruise missiles.
In a statement released by Downing Street before the visit, Burnham said: “Britain stands with Ukraine, shoulder to shoulder, and our support remains unwavering. Russia should be in no doubt of our resolve, and we will not back down until we achieve a long-lasting and just peace for Ukraine.” He called Stone Cloak “the best of homegrown British innovation” and essential for both countries' security.
According to No. 10 statistics, total UK support for Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022 has reached £25bn, including £16bn in military aid. Starmer visited Ukraine several times and hosted Zelenskyy regularly. After a March 2025 White House visit where Trump publicly berated Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian leader travelled to the UK and met not only Starmer but also King Charles at Sandringham Palace, a rare use of the royal residence for official events.
During Starmer's final Ukraine visit, Zelenskyy awarded him the Order of Freedom, the highest honour for a foreign national. At a press conference, Zelenskyy said he hoped to build a strong relationship with Burnham and arrange a meeting “as soon as possible.”
