UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham visits Kyiv for first overseas trip, co-chairs Coalition of the Willing
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham arrived in Kyiv on his first foreign visit, co-chairing a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing and meeting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as Ukraine marks its 35th independence day.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham landed in Kyiv on Monday, his first trip abroad since taking office, to co-chair a meeting of the "Coalition of the Willing" and meet President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The delegation also included European Council President Antonio Costa and other leaders from Germany, France, the Nordic and Baltic regions. The gathering coincides with Ukraine’s 35th anniversary of independence.
Burnham said the United Kingdom remains committed to Ukraine’s security, adding that British support "will not waver" and that the UK will assist in sharing classified information on the SCALP long-range cruise missile to enable local production. The UK has pledged more than £25 billion in military and civilian aid since the war began in 2022.
Zelenskyy, speaking at the independence-day celebrations, reiterated Ukraine’s desire for peace but rejected Russian demands to cede the Donbas region, stating the country will not surrender territory.
The Kremlin responded to Burnburn’s visit by accusing Britain of prolonging the conflict, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov claiming the UK is “adding fuel to the fire” and hindering peace efforts.
Other developments on Monday included the European Commission approving an additional €6.1 billion for Ukrainian defence procurement, Russia launching a Soyuz rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, and Ukrainian forces striking warehouses of Russian e-commerce firms Ozon and Wildberries.