Zelensky visits Britain as Burnham pledges fresh support for Ukraine

LONDON: Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky is set to meet with British Prime Minister Andy Burnham in London on Wednesday. The purpose of the meeting is to reaffirm Britain's support for Ukraine, particularly with the announcement of a new package of surface-to-air missiles. This meeting comes at a challenging time for Zelensky, as US President Donald Trump has suggested he should be replaced, following a recent deal between Russia and Ukraine to lift sanctions on Russian diesel exports.

Britain has expressed its disapproval of the US-Russia deal and called on allies to maintain economic pressure on Moscow. In a statement, Burnham pledged his unwavering support for Ukraine, emphasizing that Britain is committed to helping them for as long as necessary and will intensify their support for their "courageous fight for peace in Europe."

Burnham highlighted the importance of backing Ukraine to ensure the safety of people in Britain and promised additional military support. He revealed that the planned delivery includes £45 million (US$59.60 million) of surface-to-air missiles, specifically designed to target jet-powered Russian drones. Out of this package, £10 million will be fast-tracked to address Ukraine's urgent needs.

In addition to the missile delivery, Burnham has directed officials to draft further sanctions, military aid, and fiscal support. Furthermore, his foreign and finance ministers have been lobbying allies to join Britain in restricting services that facilitate Russian liquefied natural gas exports.