Burnham to visit Kyiv on first foreign trip and reaffirm UK support for Ukraine
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham visited Kyiv to reaffirm British support for Ukraine, including the sharing of long-range missile blueprints. The move drew sharp criticism from the Kremlin, which accused the UK of escalating the conflict.
Why it matters
The visit highlights the ongoing geopolitical tension between the UK and Russia and underscores the UK's commitment to providing advanced military technology to Ukraine.
Image source, AFP via Getty Images Image caption, Burnham accepts an award from Volodymyr Zelensky on behalf of the British people recognising the UK's support for Ukraine
Andy Burnham has met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on his first foreign visit as prime minister in Kyiv, where he will hand over long-range missile blueprints.
The prime minister will later chair his first meeting of the "coalition of the willing", set up by the UK and France under his predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer.
Crucially for Ukraine, he will announce his government has agreed to allow defence company MBDA to declassify information on UK components for the long-range Scalp missile – the French equivalent of the UK's Storm Shadow.
Speaking alongside Zelensky, Burnham said "despite Russia's outrageous threats to my country" the UK will continue to support Ukraine.
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