PA MediaAndy Burnham has pledged to continue the UK’s “unwavering” support for Ukraine ahead of a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday.
Zelensky will become the prime minister’s first international visitor since he took office a week ago, which No 10 said “illustrates the strength of the relationship between the two nations”.
They will visit a naval base, where Burnham will announce the sharing of the intellectual property behind the UK’s new “Stone Cloak” electronic warfare system, enabling Ukraine to produce the technology at scale.
The prime minister said: “Britain stands with Ukrain, shoulder to shoulder, and our support remains unwavering. 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.”
The electronic jammers are the size of a tablet computer, and are designed to block the detection of any drones it is fitted to.
The Ministry of Defence has already given thousands of the devices to Ukrainian forces to bolster their drone operations.
Downing Street said that following its deployment in Ukraine, the technology will be built into the UK’s next generation of long-range weapons.
It said this would include Project Brakestop, a government programme to develop low-cost cruise missiles – self-propelled guided weapons which fly like normal aircraft for much of their flight.
During Monday’s visit, the two leaders will also meet more than 200 Ukrainian military personnel who have spent the last three weeks taking part in a maritime exercise in the UK.
Exercise Sea Breeze is aimed at strengthening warfighting capabilities and counter-mine measures in the Black Sea.
Britain’s backing of Ukraine has been constant since Russia’s invasion four years ago, and the UK has committed £25bn in funding for the country’s war fight.
In one of his first calls after becoming prime minister last Monday, Burnham spoke to Zelensky and invited him to visit the UK “at the earliest opportunity”.
In a post on X shortly afterwards, Zelensky said: “I truly appreciate that the support for Ukraine and our people will remain steadfast.”
Burnham’s predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer, visited Kyiv on his final full day as Labour leader.
During that trip he announced fresh funding worth £255m (300m Euro) for Ukraine’s fight against Russia, and was awarded Ukraine’s Order of Freedom.
Asked if he was concerned about changes of leadership in Britain, and in France next year, Zelensky said: “Of course I’m afraid of changes, of course we are afraid because we are in the war each day.
“But again the priority is the relation between nations, not just between just people. I’m sure that these relations will not change, or we have to do our best not to lose such very good relations.”
He added: “I hope we will never lose strong relations with the UK during or after the war.” Sir Keir replied: “You won’t.”
