UK PM Burnham heads to Kyiv on first foreign trip, pledges long-range missile support

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham is set to arrive in Kyiv today, marking his first foreign trip since assuming office last month. This visit coincides with Ukraine's 35th independence anniversary and comes as the country continues its battle against Russia's invasion. Burnham has pledged strong support to Ukraine during this time.

During his visit, Burnham will announce that Britain has agreed to allow defence firm MBDA to release classified information on UK components for the long-range missile, SCALP. The missile is a French-produced version of the UK's Storm Shadow, both utilizing shared French and British technology. This move comes after the UK was the first to provide Ukraine with long-range strike weapons for defensive purposes in 2023.

Burnham will co-chair the first meeting of the Coalition of the Willing, a gathering of countries supporting Kyiv. The meeting will be held in a hybrid format, with some participants attending in person and others joining via video conference. Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin will participate remotely.

In a statement, Burnham pledged his country's unwavering support to Ukraine, stating, "On Ukraine's 35th anniversary of independence, the Ukrainian people should be in no doubt: the UK is behind you today and for as long as it takes." The visit comes in the wake of Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky's recent trip to London, during which the UK announced plans to share information on a new electronic jamming capability called "Stone Cloak."

This capability, when attached to drones, can help hinder Russian air defence systems from tracking and targeting drones in-flight.