PM Promises “Continued Support” for Ukraine, Just in Time for Zelensky’s Visit

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged that the UK's support for Ukraine will remain “unwavering” as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky prepares to visit Britain on Monday. The visit will mark a significant moment for the new prime minister, with Zelensky becoming Burnham's first international visitor since he entered office a week ago. Downing Street has described the meeting as a reflection of the close relationship between the UK and Ukraine. During the visit, Burnham and Zelensky are expected to travel to a naval base, where the prime minister will announce plans to share the intellectual property behind Britain's new Stone Cloak electronic warfare technology. The move is intended to allow Ukraine to manufacture the technology on a larger scale. The Stone Cloak system consists of compact jammers designed to prevent drones equipped with the technology from being detected. The Ministry of Defence has already supplied thousands of the devices to Ukrainian forces, supporting their operations on the battlefield. Speaking ahead of Zelensky's visit, Burnham told the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg that his backing for Ukraine was “unwavering” and “100%”. His comments come as the UK continues to position itself as one of Ukraine's strongest international supporters following Russia's invasion. The British government has said that technology developed through the Stone Cloak programme will also contribute to the UK's next generation of long-range weapons. This includes Project Brakestop, a government initiative focused on developing low-cost cruise missiles. Burnham said Stone Cloak represented British innovation that had already been tested in frontline conditions and would play an important role in strengthening security for both Britain and Ukraine. The prime minister and Zelensky will also meet more than 200 Ukrainian military personnel who have spent the past three weeks in Britain participating in Exercise Sea Breeze. The maritime exercise is designed to improve military capabilities and counter-mine operations in the Black Sea. The UK says its support for Ukraine has remained consistent since Russia launched its full-scale invasion four years ago, with the government committing £25bn in funding towards Ukraine's warfighting efforts. Burnham spoke to Zelensky shortly after becoming prime minister and invited him to Britain at the earliest possible opportunity. Zelensky subsequently welcomed the assurance that British support for Ukraine and its people would remain steadfast. The upcoming meeting is therefore expected to serve both a diplomatic and military purpose, reinforcing Britain's commitment to Ukraine while highlighting the growing role of British defence technology in the country's war effort. Zelensky's visit also comes shortly after Burnham's predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer, travelled to Kyiv on his final full day as Labour leader, underlining the continuity of Britain's approach towards Ukraine despite the change in leadership. As the two leaders meet, the focus is likely to remain on military cooperation, defence innovation and the UK's long-term role in supporting Ukraine. The announcement surrounding Stone Cloak could further strengthen that partnership by giving Ukrainian forces greater access to technology designed to counter modern drone warfare.