Burnham Arrives in Kyiv as UK Promises Boost for Ukraine’s Long Range Missiles

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has arrived in Kyiv on Ukraine’s 35th Independence Day, pledging continued British support as the country remains at war with Russia. Burnham is expected to announce that Britain will allow defence company MBDA to declassify information about UK made components of the Storm Shadow/SCALP missiles, helping Ukraine develop its own long range weapons. France is also working with Kyiv to establish missile assembly lines in Ukraine.

The visit is Burnham’s first foreign trip as prime minister and includes a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing, which brings together countries supporting Ukraine’s security. European leaders, including France’s Emmanuel Macron and Germany’s Friedrich Merz, are also involved. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, marking 35 years of independence, said Ukraine would not surrender despite the continuing Russian invasion. He called on European allies to provide more weapons and air defence systems, particularly Patriot interceptors, as Russian missile attacks intensify.

The EU has meanwhile approved €6.1 billion ($7.1 billion) in military aid for Ukraine, focused on air and missile defence, ammunition and radar systems. The visit comes amid growing tensions between Britain and Russia, with Moscow recently warning that the UK would face consequences over its military support for Ukraine. Burnham said Britain would remain firmly behind Ukraine, insisting that Russia’s threats would not weaken the UK’s commitment to supporting Ukrainian sovereignty and security.