Andy Burnham told Volodymyr Zelensky “we are with Ukraine 100%” on Monday as the Ukrainian president became the new prime minister’s first international visitor since entering No 10. The meeting at a Portsmouth naval base was designed to “send a very clear message”, Burnham said, adding: “I am personally with you 100%, Mr President, and I will honour every commitment this country has made to Ukraine in full.”
Zelensky described the UK-Ukraine relationship as “stronger than ever” as Burnham announced the sharing of the intellectual property behind the UK’s “Stone Cloak” electronic warfare system, enabling Ukraine to produce the technology at scale. The tablet-sized jammers, designed to block drone detection, have already been given to Ukrainian forces in their thousands by the Ministry of Defence. Downing Street said the technology would also be built into the UK’s next generation of long-range weapons, including Project Brakestop, a government programme to develop low-cost cruise missiles.
“Burnham tells Zelensky 'I'm with you 100%' as Ukrainian president becomes PM's first international visitor.”
The two leaders met more than 200 Ukrainian military personnel who had spent three weeks taking part in Exercise Sea Breeze, a maritime exercise aimed at strengthening warfighting capabilities in the Black Sea. Burnham said the UK would support Ukraine in getting a “full and unconditional ceasefire” and push for negotiations “which must have Ukraine at the table and include a strong voice for Europe too”.
The visit came just seven days after Burnham took office – a deliberate choice, he said, to show continuity in support. The UK has committed £25bn in funding since Russia’s invasion four years ago. But Burnham, who has always said he would prioritise domestic issues, now faces the challenge of balancing international demands with his inward-looking agenda. “It’s a frustrating characterisation because not many incoming prime ministers … have any experience of international affairs,” one of his inner circle said. “Andy has said that his priority will be domestic, but of course there will be moments where he’ll need to be more outward facing.”
