Burnham treads carefully in Zelensky visit, balancing Trump and Ukraine
UK Prime Minister Burnham met with President Zelensky to pledge increased military and financial support for Ukraine. The meeting occurred amidst diplomatic tension regarding Donald Trump's recent policy shifts toward Russia.
Why it matters
The visit underscores the delicate diplomatic balancing act European leaders face in maintaining support for Ukraine while navigating changing US foreign policy.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google James Landale Diplomatic correspondent Watch: Burnham welcomes Zelensky to No 10 with military ceremonial guard President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to London follows a well-trodden diplomatic path in a war now in its fifth year.
For months, US President Donald Trump had been a largely benign presence in the conflict, promising Ukraine greater access to American air defence technology and threatening more sanctions on Russia.
Then last week Trump carried out an abrupt U-turn, lifting sanctions on Russian diesel and calling for Zelensky to be replaced.
Once again Ukraine's leader got on his plane to shore up support among European allies. Today London, tomorrow Brussels.
For the prime minister there was the tricky but now familiar diplomatic task of needing to show solidarity with Zelensky without appearing to criticise Trump.
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