While in Kyiv, Burnham will lead his first session of the so-called "coalition of the willing," an alliance originally formed by the UK and France under his predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer. During the trip, he is also expected to receive an award on behalf of the British public in recognition of the UK's ongoing support for Ukraine, and will join in independence day commemorations taking place in the country.
Missile Technology and Renewed Support
In a major development for Ukraine's war effort, Burnham is set to confirm that his government has approved a plan allowing defence firm MBDA to declassify details about UK-made components used in the long-range Scalp missile, a French-built weapon comparable to the UK's own Storm Shadow system. The move comes as Burnham looks to reaffirm Britain's commitment to Ukraine following a fresh wave of Russian attacks, including a strike on a shopping center last Friday that killed at least 16 people.
Ahead of the visit, Burnham said that on the 35th anniversary of Ukraine's independence, the Ukrainian people should have no doubt that the UK stands behind them now and will continue to do so for as long as necessary. He added that he takes pride in what Britain has contributed to Ukraine and wanted the message to come directly from him that support would not waver, noting that Ukraine's security is closely tied to Britain's own. He further stated that the bond between the two nations would outlast Russia's war, adding that Moscow should have no doubt about Britain's resolve and that the UK would not step back until a fair and lasting peace is achieved.
Tensions Rise Amid Russian Warnings
The Kyiv visit comes shortly after Moscow issued warnings about potential consequences tied to Ukraine's use of British-made drones in its intensified strikes on Russian infrastructure. Ukraine has recently expanded its long-range strike campaign, targeting oil refineries as well as storage facilities belonging to Wildberries, Russia's largest online retailer.
Russia's embassy in the UK accused Britain of deliberately pushing the conflict toward further escalation, warning that deeper involvement would come at a steeper cost. Burnham responded last week by stating that Britain would not act as a fair-weather ally and would continue standing by Ukraine during its time of need. When asked directly about Russia's warning, Burnham reiterated that the UK's role has consistently been to help Ukraine defend itself, a position he said has remained unchanged across previous prime ministers and continues under his own leadership.
The trip also comes amid news that Russia's ambassador to the UK, Andrei Kelin, has recently left his post in London. Moscow has not yet named a successor, though Russia's UK embassy stated the departure should not be interpreted as a sign that diplomatic ties between the two countries are being scaled back.
