Burnham ups the ante in fight against Russia — and leaves Merz in the shade
The new British prime minister was the only E3 leader in Kyiv on Monday as he announced a new Anglo-French partnership.
Andy Burnham has intensified the UK's assistance to Ukraine by expanding the nation's capacity to create long-range missiles, during his inaugural overseas trip as prime minister. The U.K. government will allow European defense firm MBDA to declassify data on British components of the Anglo-French Storm Shadow/SCALP missiles to aid Ukraine in developing its own versions.
This missile initiative escalates pressure on German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who initially advocated for German-Swedish Taurus cruise missiles for Ukraine but later reversed his stance and skipped Kyiv's independence day celebrations upon taking office. Burnham, having attended the meeting with Macron, displayed his dedication to the Coalition of the Willing and highlighted the impact of British support.
He cautioned that Russia is running out of options and is attempting to incite terror with ballistic missiles against Ukrainian civilians. The missile accord, while not immediately benefiting Russia's war in Ukraine, signals a gradual shift in the UK's approach towards closer collaboration with Kyiv and a more aggressive stance against Moscow.
Burnham also signed an agreement permitting the UK to access Ukraine's Avengers AI lab, enabling both nations to jointly develop new battlefield technology. Merz, now facing criticism within his own political party for his previous stance on missile support, is expected to face further backlash from the opposition.
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