British Prime Minister Andy Burnham will Monday host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, marking his first meeting with a foreign leader since taking office a week ago.
Downing Street said the visit is intended to demonstrate London’s “unwavering support” for Kyiv, AFP reports.
The two leaders are scheduled to tour a UK naval base and meet personnel from both countries engaged in training Ukrainian troops. Burnham will pledge “to continue the unbreakable bond between the two nations,” echoing assurances he gave Zelensky in a call last Monday, hours after succeeding Keir Starmer.
“Britain stands with Ukraine, shoulder to shoulder, and our support remains unwavering,” Burnham said in a statement.
“Russia should be in no doubt of our resolve, and we will not back down until we achieve long‑lasting and just peace for Ukraine.”
London also announced it will transfer to Kyiv the intellectual property behind a new electronic jamming system known as Stone Cloak.
Roughly the size of a tablet and mounted on drones, the battlefield‑tested device disrupts Russian air defence systems by hindering their ability to track and target weapons in flight.
Downing Street said the technology reflects “rapid innovation” under a 100‑year partnership pact signed in January 2025. Thousands of Stone Cloak units have already been supplied to Ukraine to sustain drone operations.
Future mass production is expected in Ukraine, while the UK plans to integrate the system into its next generation of deep‑strike capabilities.
“Stone Cloak is the best of homegrown British innovation and proven on the frontline, and it will be vital to protecting our security in both our countries,” Burnham said.
During Monday’s programme, Burnham and Zelensky will meet around 200 Ukrainian sailors and soldiers who have spent the past three weeks in Britain taking part in a maritime security and counter‑mine exercise designed for Black Sea missions.
The UK’s total support for Ukraine since Russia’s full‑scale invasion more than four years ago has reached £25 billion ($33 billion), including £16 billion in direct military aid, according to Downing Street.
Zelensky is scheduled to travel to Washington on Tuesday for talks with US President Donald Trump. He is also expected to attend the funeral of Senator Lindsey Graham, a prominent supporter of Ukraine who died earlier this month.
